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The  Thunderbolt 

An  Episode  in  the  History 
Of  a  Provincial  Family 

In  Four  Acts 


By 
ARTHUR  W.  PINERO 


All  rights  reserved  under  the  International  Copyright  Act. 
Performance  forbidden  and  right  of  representation  reserved. 
Application  for  the  right  to  produce  this  play  may  be  made 
in  care  of  the  publishers. 


BOSTON 

WALTER  H.  BAKER  &  CO. 

LONDON 

WILLIAM  HEINEMANN 

MCMIX 


The  Thunderbolt 


COPYRIGHT,  1909,  BY 

ARTHUR  W.  PINERO 

All  rights  reserved 


PLEASE   READ  CAREFULLY 

The  acting  rights  of  this  play  are  reserved  by  the  author. 

Performance  is  strictly  forbidden  unless   his  express   consent 

has  first  been  obtained,  and  attention  is  called  to  the  penalties 

provided  by  law  for  any  infringements  of  his  rights,  as  follows  : — 

"Sec.  4966: — Any  person  publicly  performing  or  representing  any 
dramatic  or  musical  composition  for  which  copyright  has  been  obtained, 
without  the  consent  of  the  proprietor  of  said  dramatic  or  musical  composi- 
tion, or  his  heirs  and  assigns,  shall  be  liable  for  damages  therefor,  such 
damages  in  all  cases  to  be  assessed  at  such  sum,  not  less  than  one  hundred 
dollars  for  the  first  and  fifty  dollars  for  every  subsequent  performance,  as 
to  the  court  shall  appear  to  be  just.  If  the  unlawful  performance  and  rep- 
resentation be  wilful  and  for  profit,  such  person  or  persons  shall  be  guilty 
of  a  misdemeanor,  and  upon  conviction  be  imprisoned  for  a  period  not 
exceeding  one  year."— U.  S.  Revised  Statutes,  Title  do,  Chap.  3. 


pp. 


The  Thunderbolt 


THE  PERSONS  OF  THE  PLAY 

•James  Mortimore. 
lNN,  his  wife. 
>TEPHEN  Mortimore. 
^•I^OUiSA,  his  wife. 
VThaddeus  Mortimore. 
*5^t'HYLLis,  his  wife. 
Tovr^K    *) 
Cyril   I    ^^^  Thaddeus  Mortimores  children, 

^MZolonel  Ponting. 

vORose,  his  wife,  nee  Mortimore, 

Helen  Thornhill. 

The  Rev.  George  Trist. 

Mr.  Vallance,  solicitor,  of  Single hamp ton, 

Mr.  Elkin,  solicitor,  of  Linchpool. 

Mr.  Denver,  a  house-agent. 

Heath,  a  man-servant. 

A  servant  girl  at  Nelson  Villas. 

Two  others  at  "  Ivanhoe." 

The  scene  of  the  First  Act  is  laid  at  Linchpool,  a  city  in 
the  Midlands.  The  rest  of  the  action  takes  place,  a  month 
later,  in  the  town  of  Singlehanipton. 


amo-o^ 


The  Thunderbolt 


THE  FIRST  ACT 

The  scene  represents  a  large y  oblong  room,  situated  on  the 
ground  Jioor  and  furnished  as  a  library.  At  the  back, 
facing  the  spectator,  are  three  sash  windows,  slightly  re- 
cessed, with  Venetian  blinds.  There  is  a  chair  in  each 
recess.  At  the  further  end  of  the  right-hand  wall  a 
door  opens  from  the  hall,  the  remaining  part  of  the  wau 
— that  nearer  to  the  audience — being  occupied  by  a  long 
dwarf-bookcase,  l^his  bookcase  finishes  at  each  end  with 
a  cupboard,  and  on  the  top  of  each  cupboard  stands  a 
lamp.      The  keys  of  the  cupboards  are  in  their  locks. 

On  the  left-hand  side  of  the  room,  in  the  middle  of  the 
wall,  is  a  fireplace  with  a  fender-stool  before  it,  and  on 
either  side  of  the  fireplace  there  is  a  tall  bookcase  with 
glazed  doors.  A  high-backed  armchair  faces  the  fire- 
place at  the  further  end.  A  smoking-table  with  the 
usual  accessories,  a  chair,  and  a  settee  stand  at  the  nearer 
end  of  the  fireplace,  a  few  feet  from  the  wall. 

Almost  in  the  centre  of  the  room,  facing  the  spectator,  there 
is  a  big  knee-hole  writing-table  with  a  lamp  upon  it. 
On  the  further  side  of  the  table  is  a  writing- chair. 
Another  chair  stands  beside  the  table. 

On  the  right,  near  the  dwarf-bookcase,  there  is  a  circular 
library-table  on  which  are  strewn  books,  newspapers,  and 
1 


2  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

magazines.  Round  this  table  a  settee  and  three  chairs 
are  arranged. 

The  furniture  and  decorations^  without  exhibiting  any 
special  refinement  of  taste,  are  rich  and  massive. 

The  Venetian  blinds  are  down  and  the  room  is  in  semi- 
darkness.  What  light  there  is  proceeds  from  the  bright 
sunshine  visible  through  the  slats. 

Seated  about  the  room,  as  if  waiting  for  somebody  to  arrive^ 
are  James  and  Ann  Mortimore,  Stephen  and  Louisa, 
Thaddeus  and  Phyllis,  and  Colonel  Ponting  and 
Rose.  The  ladies  are  wearing  their  hats  and  gloves. 
Everybody  is  in  the  sort  of  black  which  people  hurriedly 
muster  while  regular  mourning  is  in  the  making — in  the 
case  of  the  Mortimores,  the  black  being  added  to  ap- 
parel of  a  less  sombre  kind.  All  speak  in  subdued 
voices. 

\Note :  Throughout,  "  right  ^^  and  "  left"  are  the  spec- 
tators^ right  and  left,  not  the  actor^s.^ 

Rose. 

\^A  lady  of  forty  four,  fashionably  dressed  and  coiffured 
and  with  a  suspiciously  blooniins^  complexion — on  the  set- 
tee on  the  left,  fanning  herself]  Oh,  the  heat!  I'm 
stifled. 

Louisa. 
[^On  the  right— forty-six,  a  spare,  thin-voiced  woman."] 
Mayn't  we  have  a  window  open  ? 

Ann. 
[^Beside  the  writing-table — a  stolid,  corpulent  woman  of 
fifty^    I  don't  think  we  ought  to  have  a  window  open. 

James. 
\_At  the  writing-table — a  burly,  ihick-set  man,  a  little 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  3 

older  than  his  wife,  with  iron-gray  hair  and  beard  and  a 
crape  band  round  his  sleeve.~\    Phew  !     Why  not,  mother  ? 

Ann. 
It  isn't  usual  in  a  house  of  mourning — except  in  the 
room  where  the 

PONTING. 
[/«  the  armchair  before  the  fireplace— fifty -five,  short, 
stout,  apoplectic.'\    Rubbish  !     \_Dabbing his  brow.']    I  beg 
your  pardon — it's  hke  the  Black  Hole  of  Calcutta. 

Thaddeus. 
[Rising  from  the  settee  on  the  right,  where  he  is  sitting 
with  Phyllis — a  meek,  care-worn  ?nan  of  iwo-and-forty.] 
Shall  1  open  one  a  Uttle  way  ? 

Stephen. 
[6>«  the  further  side  of  the  libraiy-table— forty-nine ,  bald, 
stooping,  with  red  rims  to  his  eyes,  wearing  spectacles.]    Do, 
Tad. 

[Thaddeus  goes  to  the  window  on  the  right  and 
opens  it. 

Thaddeus. 
[From  behind  the  venetia7i  blind.]    Here's  a  fly. 

James. 
[Taking  out  his  watch  as  he  rises.]   That'll  be  Crake. 
Half-past  eleven.     He's  in  good  time. 

Thaddeus. 
[Looking  into  the  street.]    It  isn't  Crake.     It's  a  young 
tellow. 

James. 

Young  fellow  ? 


4  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Thaddeus. 
[^Emerging  J]   It's  Crake's  partner. 

James.  * 

His  partner  ? 

Stephen. 
Crake  has  sent  Vallance. 

James. 
What's  he  done  that  for?     Why  hasn't  he  come  him- 
self?    This  young  man  doesn't  know  anything  about  our 
family. 

Ann. 
He'll  know  the  law,  James. 

James. 
Oh,  the  law's  clear  enough,  mother. 

[After  a  short  silence.  Heath,  a  middle-aged  man- 
servant, appears,  followed  by  Vallance. 
Vallance  is  a  young  man  of  about  five-and- 
thirty. 

Heath. 

Mr.  Vallance. 

James. 
{Advancing  to  Vallance  as  Heath  retires^  Good- 
morning. 

Vallance. 
Good-morning.    \_Inquiringly.'\   Mr.  Mortimore? 

James. 
James  Mortimore. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  5 

Vallance. 
Mr.  Crake  had  your  telegram  yesterday  evening. 

James. 
Yes,  he  answered  it,  telling  us  to  expect  him. 

Vallance. 
He's  obliged  to  go  to  London  on  business.     He's  very 
sorry.     He  thought  I'd  better  run  through. 

James. 
Oh,  well — glad  to  see  you.    [^Introducing  the  others.'] 
My  wife.     My  sister  Rose — Mrs.  Ponting.     My  sister-in- 
law,   Mrs.  Stephen  Mortimore.     My  sister-in-law,  Mrs. 
Thaddeus.     My  brother  Stephen. 

Stephen. 
[Fising.]    Mr.  Vallance  was  pointed  out  to  me  at  the 
Institute   the   other  night.    [Shaking  hands  with   Val- 
lance.]  You  left  by  the  eight  forty-seven  } 

Vallance. 
Yes.     I  changed  at  Mirtlesfield. 

James. 
Colonel   Ponting — my  brother-in-law.  [Ponting,  who 
has  risen,    nods  to  Vallance  and  joins   Rose.]   My 
younger  brother,  Thaddeus. 

Thaddeus. 
[  Who  has  moved  away  to  the  left.']    How  d'ye  do  ? 

James. 
[Putting  Vallance  into  the  chair  before  the  writing- 
table  and  switching  on  the  light  of  the  lamp."]    You  sit 
yourself   down    there.    [To   everybody. "]    Who's  to   be 
spokesman  ? 


6  THE   THUNDERBOLT 

Stephen. 
\_yoining  V.o\5is,A.']    Oh,  you  explain  matters,  Jim. 

[Louisa  makes  way  for  Stephen,  transferring 
herself  to  another  chair  so  that  her  husband 
may  be  nearer  Vallance. 

James. 
[71?  PONTING.]   Colonel? 

PONTING. 

{Sitting  by  Rose.]  Certainly  ;  you  do  the  talking, 
Mortimore. 

James. 

[Sitting,  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  astride  a  chair, 
which  he  fetches  frotn  the  window  on  the  rightJ]  Well, 
Mr.  Vallance,  the  reason  we  wired  you  yesterday — wired 
Mr.  Crake,  rather — asking  him  to  meet  us  here  this  morn- 
ing, is  this.  Something  has  happened  here  in  Linchpool 
which  makes  it  necessary  for  us  to  obtain  a  little  legal 
assistance. 

Vallance. 
Yes? 

James. 
Not  that  we  anticipate  legal  difficulties,  whichever  way 
the  affair  shapes.  At  the  same  time,  we  consider  it  ad- 
visable that  we  should  be  represented  by  our  own  sohc- 
itor — a  solicitor  who  has  our  interests  at  heart,  and 
nobody's  interests  but  ours.  {Looking  round. '\  Isn't  that 
it? 

Stephen. 
We   want    our   interests    watched^ur  interests    ex- 
clusively. 


TEE  THUNDERBOLT  7 

PONTING. 

Watched — that's  it.     I'm   speaking  for  my   wife,   of 


course. 


Rose. 


[^IVith  a  languid  drawi.']  Yes,  watched.  We  should 
like  our  interests  watched. 

James. 
[ 7(7  Vallance.]  These  are  the  facts.  I'll  start  with 
a  bit  of  history.  We  Mortimores  are  one  of  the  oldest, 
and,  I'm  bold  enough  to  say,  one  of  the  most  respected, 
families  in  Singlehampton.  You're  a  newcomer  to  the 
town  ;  so  I'm  obliged  to  tell  you  things  I  shouldn't  have 
to  tell  Crake,  who's  been  the  family's  sohcitor  for  years. 
Four  generations  of  Mortimores — I'm  not  counting  our 
youngsters,  who  make  a  fifth — four  generations  of  Morti- 
mores have  been  born  in  Singlehampton,  and  the  ma- 
jority of  'em  have  earned  their  daily  bread  there. 

Vallance. 
Indeed? 

James. 

Yes,  sir,  indeed.  Now,  then.  {Pointing  to  the  writing- 
table. '\  Wridng-paper's  in  the  middle  drawer.  [Val- 
lance takes  a  sheet  of  paper  from  the  drawer  and  arranges 
it  before  him.'\  My  dear  father  and  mother — both  passed 
away — had  five  children,  four  sons  and  a  daughter.  I'm 
the  second  son  ;  then  comes  Stephen  ;  then  Rose — Mrs. 
Colonel  Ponting  ;  then  Thaddeus.  You  see  us  all  round 
you. 

Vallance. 
[Selecting  a  pen."]   Five  children,  you  said? 


8  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
Five.    The  eldest  of  us  was  Ned— Edward  ^— 

Stephen. 
Edward  Thomas  Mortimore. 

James. 
Edward   cut  himself  adrift   from  Singlehampton  six- 
and-twenty  years  ago.     He  died  at  a  quarter-past  three 
yesterday  morning. 

Stephen. 
Up-stairs. 

James. 
We're  in  his  house. 

Stephen. 
We  lay  him  to  rest  in  the  cemetery  here  on  Monday. 

Vallance. 
{Sympathetically.']   I  was  reading  in  the  train,  in  one 
of  the  Linchpool  papers 

James. 
Oh,  they've  got  it  in  all  their  papers. 

Vallance. 
Mr.  Mortimore,  the  brewer? 

James. 
The  same.    Aye,  he  was  a  big  man  in  Linchpool. 

Stephen. 
A  very  big  man. 

James. 
And,  what's  more,   a  very  wealthy  one ;   there's  no 


THE    THUNDERBOLT  9 

doubt    about   that.     Well,   we  can't   find  a  will,   Mr. 

Vallance. 

Vallance. 

Really? 

James. 
To  all  appearances,  my  brother's  left  no  will — died 
intestate. 

Vallance. 
Unmarried  ? 

James. 
Unmarried  ;  a  bachelor.    Now,  then,  sir — ^just  to  satisfy 
my  good  lady — in  the  event  of  no  will  cropping  up,  what 
becomes  of  my  poor  brother's  property  ? 

Vallance. 
It  depends  upon  what  the  estate  consists  of.     As  much 
of  it  as  is  real  estate  would  go  to  the  heir-at-law — in  this 
instance,  the  eldest  surviving  brother. 

PONTING. 

\_Impatiently^  Yes,  yes ;  but  it's  all  personal  estate — 
personal  estate,  every  bit  of  it. 

James. 
\To  Vallance.]    The   Colonel's  right.     It's  personal 
estate  entirely,  so  we  gather.     The  Colonel  and  I  were 
pumping  Elkin's  managing-clerk  about  it  this  morning. 

Vallance. 
Elkin? 

James. 
Elkin,  Son  and  TuUis. 


10  TEE  THUNDERBOLT 

Stephen. 
Mr.  Elkin  has  acted  as  my  poor  brother's  solicitor  for 
the  last  fifteen  years. 

James. 
And  he's  never  made  a  will  for  Ned. 

Stephen. 
Nor  heard  my  brother  mention  the  existence  of  one. 

James. 
[7#  Vallance.]     Well?     In   the   case   of   personal 
estate ? 

Vallance. 
In  that  case,  equal  division  between  next-of-kin. 

James. 
That's  us — me,  and  my  brothers,  and  my  sister? 

Vallance. 
Yes. 

James. 
\To  Ann.]    What  did  I  tell  you,  Ann?   [To  the  rest. '\ 
What  did  I  tell  everybody  ? 

[Stephen  polishes  his  spectacles,  and  Ponting 
pulls  at  his  moustache,  vigorously.  Rose, 
Ann,  and  Louisa  resettle  themselves  in  their 
seats  with  great  contentment. 

Vallance. 
[Writing^      "Edward" —     {looking    uf^     Thomas? 
[James  nods.'\   "  Thomas— Mortimore " 

James. 
Of  3  Cannon  Row  and  Horton  Lane 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  11 

Stephen. 
Horton  Lane  is  where  the  brewery  is. 

James. 
Linchpool,  brewer. 

Stephen. 
"Gentleman"  is  the  more  correct  description.     The 
business   was    converted   into   a   company   in   nineteen- 
hundred-and-four. 

Louisa. 
Gentleman,  ah !     What  a  gentlemanly  man  he  was ! 

Ann. 
A  perfect  gentleman  in  every  respect. 

Rose. 
Most  gentlemanlike,  poor  dear  thing. 

PONTING. 

Must   have  been.     I  never  saw  him — but  must  have 
been. 

James. 
[7b  Vallance.]  Gentleman,  deceased  — 

Stephen. 
Died,  June  the  twentieth 

James. 
Aged  fifty-three.     Two  years  my  senior. 

Vallance. 
[  With  due  moumfulness.'\   No  older  ?   [  Writing.']  You 
are  James 


12  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
James    Henry.     •' Ivanhoe,"    Claybrook    Road,    and 
Victoria  Yard,  Singlehampton,  builder  and  contractor. 

Ann. 
My  husband  is  a  parish  guardian  and  a  rural-district 
councilman. 

James. 
Never  mind  that,  mother. 

Ann. 
Eight  years  treasurer  of  the  Institute,  and  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Singlehampton  and  Claybrook  Temper- 
ance League. 

Louisa. 
Stephen  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  League  too — 
weren't  you,  Stephen  ? 

James. 
[7^  Vallance.]    Stephen  PhiUp  Mortimore,  ii  The 
Crescent,  and   32    King   Street,  Singlehampton,  printer 
and  pubhsher ;  editor  and  proprietor  of  our  Singlehamp- 
ton Tt?nes  and  Mirror. 

Louisa. 
Author  of  the  History  of  Singlehampton  and  its  Sur- 
roundings   

Stephen. 
All  right,  Lou. 

Louisa. 
With  Ordnance  Map. 

James. 
Rose  Emily  Rackstraw  Ponting—— 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  13 

Rose. 
My  mother  was  a  Rackstraw. 

James. 
Wife  of  Arthur  Everard  Ponting,  West  Sussex  Regi- 
ment,   Colonel,    retired,    lya    Coningsby   Place,   South 
Belgravia,  London.     That's  the  lot. 

Ann. 

No 

James. 
Oh,   there's  Tad.    [To  Vallance.]    Thaddeus  John 
Mortimore 

Thaddeus. 
\_lVho  is  standing,  looking-  on,  with  his  elbows  resting 
upon   the  back  of  the  chair  before  the  fireplace — smiling 
diffidently^    Don't  forget  me,  Jim. 

James. 
6  Nelson  Villas,  Singlehampton,  professor  of  music. 
Any  further  particulars,  Mr.  Vallance  ? 

Vallance. 
[Finishing  writing  and  leaning  back   in   his   chair. '\ 
May  I    ask,  Mr.  Mortimore,  what   terms  you  and  your 
sister  and  brothers  were  on  with  the  late  Mr.  Mortimore  ? 

James. 
Terms  ? 

Vallance. 
What  I  mean  is,  your  late  brother  was  a  man  of  more 

than  ordinary  intelligence  ;  he  must  have  known  who  his 
estate  would  benefit,  in  the  event  of  his  dying  intestate. 


14  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
\_With  a  nod."]   Aye. 

Vallance. 
My  point  is,  was  he  on  such  terms  with  you  as  to  make 
it  reasonably  probable  that  he  should  have  desired  his 
estate  to  pass  to  those  who  are  here  ? 

James. 
{^Rubbing  his  beard.']   Reasonably  probable  ? 

Stephen. 
Certainly. 

PONTING. 

In  my  opinion,  certainly. 

James. 
\Looking  at  the  others.^    He  sent  for  us  when  he  was 
near  his  end 

Stephen. 
Showing  that  old  sores  were  healed — thoroughly  healed 
— as  far  as  he  was  concerned. 

Vallance. 
Old  sores  ? 

James. 
He  wouldn't  have  done  that  if  he  hadn't  had  a  fond- 
ness for  his  family — eh  ? 

Ann. 

Of  eourse  not. 

Louisa. 
Of  course  he  wouldn't. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  16 

PONTING. 

Quite  so. 

Vallance. 
Then,  I  take  it,  there  had  been — er         ? 

Stephen. 
An  estrangement.     Yes,  there  had. 

James. 
Oh,  I'm  not  one  for  keeping  anything  in  the  back- 
ground.    Up  to  a  day  or  two  before  his  death,  we  hadn't 
been  on  what  you'd  call  terms  with  my  brother  for  many 
years,  Mr.  Vallance. 

Stephen. 
Unhappily. 

James. 
De  mortuis — how's  it  go ? 

Stephen. 
De  mortuis  nil  nisi  bonum. 

James. 
Well,  plain  English  is  good  enough  for  me.    [7^  Val- 
lance.]   But  I  don't  attempt  to  deny  it — at  one  time  of 
his  Ufe  my  poor  brother  Edward  was  a  bit  of  a  scamp, 
sir. 

Stephen. 
A  little  rackety — a  little   wild.     Young  men  will  be 
young  men. 

Ann. 
\Shaking  her  head."]     I've  a  grown-up  son  myself. 


16  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Louisa. 
\_Inconsequently.'\    And   there   are   two  sides  to  every 
question.     I  always  say — don't  I,  Stephen ? 

Stephen. 
Yes,  yes,  yes. 

Louisa. 
There  are  two  sides  to  every  question. 

James. 
\To  Vallance.]    No,  sir,  after  Edward  cleared  out  of 
Singlehampton,  we  didn't  see  him  again,  any  of  us,  till 
about  fifteen  years  back.     Then  he  came  to  settle  here, 
in  this  city,  and  bought  Cordingly's  brewery. 

Louisa. 
Only  forty  miles  away  from  his  birthplace. 

Stephen. 
Forty-two  miles. 

That  was  fate. 

Chance. 

Louisa. 
/don't  know  the  difference  between  chance  and  fate. 

Stephen. 
\Irriiably.'\    No,  you  don't,  Lou. 

James. 
Then  some  of  us  used  to  knock  up  against  him  occa- 
sionally— generally  on  the  hne,  at  Mirtlesfield  junction. 
But  it  was  only  a  nod,  or  a  how-d'ye-do,  we  got  from 


Louisa. 
Stephen. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  17 

him  ;  and  it  never  struck  us  till  last  Tuesday  morning 
that  he  kept  a  soft  corner  in  his  heart  for  us  all. 


Tuesday  — 
First  post 


Vallance. 
Ann. 


James. 
We  had  a  letter  from  Elkin,  teUing  us  that  poor  Ned 
was  seriously  ill ;  and  saying  that  he  was  willing  to  shake 
hands  with  the  principal  members  of  the  family,  if  they 
chose  to  come  through  to  Linchpool. 

Stephen. 
Thank  God  we  came. 

James. 
Aye,  thank  God. 

Ann  and  Louisa. 
Thank  God. 

Rose. 
\_Affeciedly.']    It  will  always  be  a  sorrow  to  me  that  I 
didn't  get  down  till  it  was  too  late.     I  shall  never  cease 
to  reproach  myself. 

James. 
\_Indulgently.']   Oh,  well,  you're  a  woman  o'  fashion, 
Rose. 

Rose. 
\_With  a  simper."]     Still,  if  I  had  guessed  the  end  was 
as  near  as  it  was,  I'd  have  given  up  my  social  engage- 
ments   without    a    murmur.     \_Appealvig  to   Ponting.] 
Toby ! 


18  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

PONTING. 

Without  a  murmur — without  a  murmur ;  both  of  us 
would. 

Vallance. 
\_Rismg,  putting  his  tiotes   into  his  pocketbook  as  he 
speaks.']    I  think  it  would  perhaps  be  as  well  that  I  should 
meet  Mr.  Elkin. 

Stephen. 
That's  the  plan. 

James. 
[Rising.']   Just  what  I  was  going  to  propose. 

Stephen. 
Elkin  knows  we  have  communicated  with  our  sohcitor. 

James. 
[Looking  at  his  watch.]    He's  gone  round  to  the  Safe 
Deposit  Company  in  Lemon  Street. 

Stephen. 
His  latest  idea  is  that  my  brother  may  have  rented  a 
safe  there. 

PONTING. 

[Who  has  risen  with  James.]  Preposterous.  Never 
heard  anything  more  grotesque. 

James. 
The  old  gentleman  will  want  to  drag  the  river  Linch 
next. 

PONTING. 

As  if  a  man  of  wealth  and  position,  with  safes  and 
strong-rooms  of  his  own,  would  deposit  his  will  in  a  place 
of  that  sort.     'Pon  my  word,  it's  outrageous  of  Elkin. 


lEE  THUNDERBOLT  19 

Stephen. 
It  does  seem  rather  extravagant. 

Rose. 
Absurd. 

Vallance. 
\Coming  forward 7\    We  must  remember  that  it's  the 
duty  of  all  concerned  to  use  every  possible  means  of  dis- 
covery.   \To  James.]    Your  brother  had  an  office  at  the 
brewery  ? 

James. 
Elkin  and  I  turned  that  inside-out  yesterday. 

Stephen. 
In  the  presence  of  Mr.  Holt  and  Mr.  Friswell,  two  of 
the  directors. 

Vallance. 
And  his  bank ? 

James. 
London  City  and  Midland.     Four  tin  boxes.     We've 
been  through  'em. 

Stephen. 
The    most    hkely    place    of  deposit,   I   should  have 
thought,  was  the  safe  in  this  room. 

PONTING. 

Exactly.     The  will  would  have  been  there  if  there  had 
been  a  will  at  all. 

[James  switches  on  the  light  of  the  lamp  which 
stajids  above  the  cupboard  at  the  further  end  of 
the  dwarf-bookcase. 


20  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
[^opening   the    cupboard   and  revealing  a  sa/e.^    Yes, 
this  is  where  my  brother's  private  papers  are. 

Stephen. 
This  was  his  Hbrary  and  sanctum. 

James. 
{^Listening  as  he  shuts  the  cupboard  door."]  Hallo! 
\_Opening  the  room  door  a  few  inches  and  peering  into  the 
hail.']  ]4ere  is  Elkin.  {There  is  a  slight  general  fnove?nent 
denoting  intense  interest  and  suspetise.  Ann  gets  to  her 
feet.  James  closes  the  door  and  cojnes forward  a  little — 
gritnlyf]  Well!  Hey!  I  wonder  whether  he's  found 
anything  in  Lemon  Street  ? 

PONTING. 

[^Clutching  Rose's  shoulder  and  dropping  back  into  his 
chair— under  his  breath.'\   Good  God  ! 

Ann. 
[Staring  at  her  husband.'\   James ! 

James. 
[Sternly.']    Go   and   sit  down,  mother.    [Ann  retreats 
and  seats  herself  beside  Rose.]    If  he  has,  we  ought  to  feel 
glad  ;  that's  how  we  ought  to  feel. 

Stephen. 
[Resentfully.']    Of  course  we    ought.     That's  how  we 
shall  feel. 

James. 

Poor  old  Ned !     It's  his  wishes  we've  got  to  consider 

^-[returning  to  the  door]  his  wishes.    [Opening  the  door 

again.]    Come  in,  Mr.  Elkin.     Waiting  for  you,  sir.    [He 

admits  Elkin,  a  gray-haired,  elderly  man  of  sixty.     Pre- 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  21 

sents  Vallance.]  Mr.  Vallance — Crake  and  Vallance, 
Singlehampton,  our  solicitors.  [Elkin  advances  and 
shakes  hands  with  Vallance.]  Mr.  Vallance  has  just 
run  over  to  see  how  we're  getting  on. 

Elkin. 
[To  Vallance,  genially.~\  I  don't  go  often  to  Single- 
hampton nowadays.  I  recollect  the  time,  Mr.  Vallance, 
when  the  whole  of  the  south  side  of  the  town  was  meadow- 
land.  Would  you  beheve  it — meadow-land  !  And  where 
they've  built  the  new  hospital,  old  Dicky  Dunn,  the 
farmer,  used  to  graze  his  cattle.  SJTo  James,  who  is 
touching  his  sleeve. '\    Eh  ? 

James. 
[Rather  huskily.']   Excuse  me.     Any  luck  ? 


Elkin. 


Luck? 


James. 
In  Lemon  Street.     Find  anything? 

Elkin. 
[Shaking  his   head."]    No.     There  is  nothing  there  in 
your  brother's    name.     [Again  there  is  a  general  move- 
ment, but  this  time  of  relief?^    It  was  worth  trying. 

James. 
Oh,  it  was  worth  trying. 

Stephen. 
[Heartily^   Everything's  worth  trying. 

Ponting. 
[Jumping  u/)."]    Everything.     Mustn't  leave  a  stone 
unturned. 


22  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

\The  strain  being  over.  Rose  and  Ann  rise  and 
go  to  the  fireplace,  where  PONTING  joitis  them. 
Thaddeus  tnoves  away  and  seats  himself  at 
the  centre  window. 

Elkin. 
\Sitting  beside   the   writing-table 7^    This  is  a  puzzling 
state  of  affairs,  Mr.  Vallance. 

Vallance. 
Oh,  come,  Mr.  Elkin  ! 

Elkin. 
I   don't  want   to   appear  uncivil  to  these   ladies  and 
gentlemen — very  puzzling. 

Vallance. 
Scarcely  what  one  would  have  expected,  perhaps  ;  but 
what  is  there  that's  puzzling  about  it? 

James. 
[^Standing  by  Elkin.]    People  have  died  intestate  be- 
fore to-day,  Mr.  Elkin. 

Stephen. 
It's  a  common  enough  occurrence. 

Vallance. 
[27?  Elkin.]    I  understand  you  acted  for  the  late  Mr. 

Mortimore  for  a  great  many  years? 

Elkin. 
Ever  since  he  came  to  Linchpool. 

Vallance, 
His  most  prosperous  years. 

[Elkin  assents  silently^ 


TEE  THUNDERBOLT  23 

James. 
When  he  was  making  money  to  leave, 

Vallance. 
\To  Elkin.]     And   the   subject  of  a  will  was  never 
broached  between  you  ? 

Elkin. 
I  won't  say  that.     I've  thrown  out  a  hint  or  two  at  dif- 
ferent times. 

Vallance. 
Without  any  response  on  his  part  ? 

Elkin. 
Without  any  practical  response,  I  admit.  [James  and 
Stephen  shrug  their  shoulders.']  But  he  must  have  em- 
ployed other  solicitors  previous  to  my  connection  with 
him.  I  can't  trace  his  having  done  so  ;  but  no  com- 
mercial man  gets  to  eight-and-thirty  without  having 
something  to  do  with  us  chaps. 

Vallance. 
\_Sitting  on  the  settee  on  the  left.']    Assuming  a  will  of 
long  standing,  he  may  have  destroyed  it,  may  he  not, 
recently  ? 

Elkin. 
Recently  ? 

Vallance. 
Quite  recently.     Here  we  have  a  man  at  variance  with 
his  family  and  dangerously  ill.     What  do  we  find  him 
doing  ?     We    find    him    summoning   his   relatives  to  his 
bedside  and  becoming  reconciled  to  them 


24  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
Completely  reconciled. 

Stephen. 
Completely. 

Elkin. 
[To  Vallance.]    At  my  persuasion.     I  put  pressure 

on  him  to  send  for  his  belongings. 

Vallance. 
Indeed?     Granting  that,  isn't  it  reasonable  to  suppose 
that,  subsequent  to  this  reconcihation ? 

Elkin. 
Oh,  no :  he  destroyed  no  document  of  any  description 
after  he  took  to  his  bed.     That  I've  ascertained. 

Vallance. 
Well,  theorizing  is  of  no  use,  is  it?     We  have  to  deal 
with  the  simple  fact,  Mr.  Elkin. 

James. 
Yes,  that's  all  we  have  to  deal  with. 

Stephen. 
The  simple  fact. 

Elkin. 
No  will. 

PONTING. 

[  Who,  with  the  rest,  has  been  following  the  conversation 
between  Elkin  and  Vallance.]    No  will. 

Elkin. 
\_After  a  paused]    Do  you  know,  Mr.  Vallance,  there  is 
one  thing  I  shouldn't  have  been  unprepared  for? 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  25 

Vallance. 


What? 


Elkin. 
A  will  drawn  by  another  solicitor,  behind  my  back, 
during  my  association  with  Mr.  Mortimore. 

Vallance. 
Behind  your  back  ? 

Elkin. 
He  was  a  most  attractive  creature — one  of  the  most 
engaging  and  one  of  the  ablest,  I've  ever  come  across  ; 
but  he  was  remarkably  secretive  with  me  in  matters  re- 
lating to  his  private  affairs — remarkably  secretive. 

Vallance. 
Secretive  ? 

Elkin. 
Reserved,  if  you  like.     Why,  it  wasn't  till  a  few  days 
before  his  death — last  Saturday — it  wasn't  till  last  Satur- 
day that  he  first  spoke  to  me  about  this  child  of  his. 

Vallance. 
Child? 

Elkin. 
This  young  lady  we  are  going  to  see  presently. 

Vallance. 
[Looking  at  James  and  Stephen.]   Oh,  I — I  haven't 
heard  anything  of  her. 

Elkin. 
Bless  me,  haven't  you  been  told? 


26  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
{Uncomfortably^    We  hadn't  got  as  far  as  that  with 
Mr.  Vallance. 

Stephen. 
\Clearing his  throat.'l    Mr.  Elkin  did  not  think  fit  to  in- 
form us  of  her  existence  till  yesterday. 

James. 
{Looking  at  his  watch.']    Twelve  o'clockshe's  due,  isn't 
she? 

Elkin. 
{To  James.]   You  fixed   the  hour.    {To  Vallance.] 
I  wrote  to  her  at  the  same  time  that  I  communicated  with 
his  brothers.     Unfortunately  she  was  away,  visiting. 

Stephen. 
She's  studying  painting  at  one  of  these  art-schools  in 
Paris. 

Elkin. 
She  arrived  late  last  night.     Mrs.  Elkin  and  I  received 
her.     Only  four-and-twenty.     A  nice  girl. 

Vallance. 
Is  the  mother  living  ? 

Elkin. 
No. 

James. 
The  mother  was  a  person  of  the  name  of  Thornhill. 

Stephen. 
Calling  herself  Thornhill — some  woman  in   London. 
She  died  when  the  child  was  quite  small. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  27 

James. 
\^With  a  jerk  of  the  head  towards  the  safe^   There's  a 
bundle  of  the  mother's  letters  in  the  safe. 

Elkin. 
This  meeting  with  the  family  is  my  arranging.  As  mat- 
ters stand,  Miss  Thornhill  is  absolutely  unprovided  for, 
Mr.  Vallance.  And  there  was  the  utmost  affection  be- 
tween Mr.  Mortimore  and  his  daughter — as  he  acknowl- 
edged her  to  be — undoubtedly.  Now  you  won't  grum- 
ble at  me  for  my  use  of  the  word  "  puzzling  "  ? 

Vallance. 
\Looking  round.']    I    am    sure   my  clients,  should  the 
responsibility  uldmately  rest  with  them,  will  do  what  is 
just  and  fitting  with  regard  to  the  young  lady, 

James. 
More  than  just — more  than  just,  if  it's  left  to  me. 

Stephen. 

We  should  be  only  too  anxious  to  behave  in  a  liberal 
manner,  Mr.  Vallance. 

Louisa. 
We're  parents  ourselves — all  except  Colonel  and  Mrs. 
Ponting. 

Ann. 
My  own  girl — my  Cissy — is  nearly  four-and-twenty. 

Rose. 
\Seated  upon   the  fender-stool.']    I    suppose  we  should 
have  to  make  her  an  allowance  of  sorts,  shouldn't  we? 

James. 
A  monthly  allowance. 


28  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Stephen. 
Monthly  or  quarterly. 

PONTING. 

Yes,  but  this  art-school  in  Paris — you've  no  conception 
what  that  kind  of  fun  runs  into. 

James. 
Schooling  doesn't  go  on  forever,  Colonel. 

PONTING. 

But  it'll  lead   to   an   atelier — a  studio — if  you're  not 
careful. 

Rose. 
The  art-school  could  be  dropped,  surely  ? 

Stephen. 
Perhaps  the  art-school  isn't  strictly  necessary. 

Rose. 
And  she  has  an  address  in  a  most  expensive  quarter 
of  Paris— didn't  you  say,  Jim  ? 

James. 
The  Colonel  says  it's  a  swell  locality. 

PONTING. 

Most  expensive.     The  father — if  he  was  her  father — 
seems  to  have  squandered  money  on  her. 

Stephen. 
Well,  well,  we  shall  see  what's  to  be  done. 

PONTING. 

Squandered  money  on  her  recklessly. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  29 

James. 
Yes,  yes,  we'll  see,  Colonel ;  we'll  see. 

[Phyllis,  who  has  taken  no  part  in  what  has  been 
going  on,  sudde7ily  rises.  She  is  a  woman  of 
thirty-five,  white-faced  and  faded,  but  with  de- 
cided traces  of  beauty.  Everybody  looks  at  her 
in  surprise. 

Phyllis. 
\_Falteringly.']   I — I  beg  your  pardon 

Louisa. 
[Startled.']    Good  gracious  me,  Phyllis! 

Phyllis. 
\Gaining firmness  as  she  proceeds^]    I  beg  your  pardon. 
With  every  respect  for  Rose  and  Colonel  Ponting,  if  we 
come  into  Edward  Mortimore's  money,  we  mustn't  let  it 
make  an  atom  of  difference  to  the  child. 

Louisa. 
Really,  Phyllis ! 

Stephen. 
{Stifi^y.]   My  dear  PhyUis 

James. 
[Half  amused,  half  contemptuously.']   Oh,  we  mustn't, 
mustn't  we,  PhyHis  ? 

Phyllis. 
He  was  awfully  devoted  to  her  in  his  lifetime,  it  turns 
out.     Colonel    Ponting    and   Rose   ought   to   remember 
that. 

Ponting. 
[  Walking  away  in  umbrage  to  the  wiftdow  on  the  left, 
followed  by  Rose.]     Thank  you,  Mrs.  Thaddeus. 


30  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Thaddeus. 
[  Who  has  risen  and  come  to  the  writing-table?!^   Phyl— 
Phyl 

Phyllis. 
[Z^  James  ««^Stephen.]  Jim— Stephen — you  couldn't 
stint  the  girl  after  pocketing  your  brother's  money  ;  you 
couldn't  do  it! 

Ann. 
James 

James. 

Eh,  mother? 

Ann. 
I    don't  think  we  need  to  be  taught  our  duty  by 
PhylUs. 

Stephen. 
\_Rising  and  going  over  to  the  fireplace.']    Frankly,  I 
don't  think  we  need. 

Louisa. 
[^Following  him.'}    Before  Mr.  Elkin  and  Mr.  Vallance ! 

Thaddeus. 
Stephen — Lou — you  don't  understand  Phyl. 

James. 
It  isn't  for  want  of  plain  speaking,  Tad. 

Thaddeus. 
[Sitting  at  the  writing-table. }   No,  but  listen — ^Jim  -^— 

James. 
[Joining  those  at  the  fireplace.}    Blessed  if  I've  ever 
been  spoken  to  in  this  style  in  my  life ! 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  31 

Thaddeus. 
Jim,  listen.  If  we  come  into  Ned's  money,  we  come 
into  his  debts  into  the  bargain.  There  are  no  assets 
without  habihties.  The  girl's  a  debt — a  big  debt,  as  it 
were.  Well,  what  does  she  cost  ?  Five  hundred  a  year  ? 
Six — seven — eight  hundred  a  year?  What's  it  matter? 
What  would  a  thousand  a  year  matter?  Whatever  Ned 
could  afford,  we  could,  amongst  us.  Why  he  should 
have  neglected  to  make  Miss  Thornhill  independent  is  a 
mystery — I'm  with  you  there,  Mr.  Elkin.  Perhaps  his 
sending  for  us,  and  shaking  hands  with  us  as  he  did,  was 
his  way  of  giving  her  into  our  charge.  Heaven  knows 
what  was  in  his  mind.  But  this  is  certain — if  it  falls  to 
our  lot  to  administer  to  Ned's  estate,  we  administer,  not 
only  to  the  money,  but  to  the  girl,  and  the  art-school, 
and  her  comfortable  lodgings,  and  anything  else  in 
reason.     There's  nothing  offensive  in  our  saying  this. 

Elkin. 
Not  in  the  least. 

Thaddeus. 
\_With    a    deprecating  little   laugh."]    Ha!     We   don*t 
often  put  our  oar  into  family  discussions,  Phyl  and  I. 
Stephen — [turning  in  his  chair]    Rosie 

James. 
[Looking  down  on  Thaddeus — grinning.]    Hallo,  Tad ! 
Why,  I've  always  had  the  credit  of  being  the  speaker  o' 
the  family.     You're  developing  all  of  a  sudden. 

[Heath  enters. 

Heath. 
[Looking  round  the   room,]     Mrs,   Thaddeus   Morti- 
more ^? 


32  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Thaddeus. 
{Pointing  to  Phyllis  who  zs  now  seated  in  a  chair  on 
the  right. '\    Here  she  is. 

Heath. 
\Jn  a  hushed  voice.']   Two  young  ladies  from  Roper's, 
to  tit  Mrs.  Thaddeus  Mortimore  with  her  mourning. 

Thaddeus. 
[Rising.']  They  weren't  ready  for  Phyllis  at  ten  o'clock. 
\_Over  his   shoulder,  as   he  joins    Phyllis  at  the  door.] 
Hope  you  don't  object  to  their  waiting  on  her  here. 

Heath. 
[27?  Thaddeus.]   On  the  first  floor,  sir. 

[Phyllis  and  Thaddeus  go  out.     Heath  is  fol- 
lowing them. 

Vallance. 

\To  Heath,   rising.']    Er \To  Elkin.]   What's 

his  name? 

Elkin. 
\Calling  to  Heath,  who  returns^    Heath 

Vallance. 
{Going  to  Heath.]    Have  you  a  room  where  Mr.  Elkin 
and  I  can  be  alone  for  a  few  minutes  t 

Heath. 
There's  the  dining-room,  sir. 

Vallance. 
{Turning    to    Elkin.]    Shall  we    have    a    little  talk 
together  } 

Elkin. 
\Rising.'\   By  all  means. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  33 

Vallance. 
[7b  the  others.']   Will  you  excuse  us? 

Elkin. 
[Taking  Vallance' s    arm.']    Come   along.    [Passing 
out  with  Vallance — regretfully.]   Ah,  Heath,  the  dining- 
room  ! 

Heath. 
[As  he  disappears,  closing  the  door.]   Yes,  Mr.  Elkin  ; 
that's  over,  sir. 

James. 
[  Who  has  crossed  over  to  the  right,  to  watch  the  with- 
drawal of  Elkin  atid  Vallance.]   What  have  those  two 
got  to  say  to  each  other  on  the  quiet  in  such  a  deuce  of  a 
hurry  ? 

PONTING. 

[Coming  forward.]    My  dear  good  friends,  I  beg  you 
won't  think  me  too  presuming 

James. 
[Sourly.^    What  is  it,  Colonel? 

PONTING. 

But  you  mustn't,  you  really  mustn't,  allow  yourselves 
to  be  dictated  to — bullied 

James. 
Bullied  ? 

PONTING. 

Into  doing  anything  that  isn't  perfectly  agreeable  to 
you. 

Stephen. 
You  consider  we're  being  bullied,  Colonel  ? 


34  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
If  it  comes  to  bullying 

PONTING. 

It  has  come  to  bullying,  if  I'm  any  judge  of  bullying. 
First,  you  have  Mr.  Elkin,  a  meddlesome,  obstructive 

Stephen. 
{Sitting  at  the  writing-table^   Oh,  he's  obviously  an- 
tagonistic to  us — obviously. 

PONTING. 

Of  course  he  is.  He  sniffs  a  Uttle  job  of  work  over 
this  Miss  Thornhill.  It's  his  policy  to  cram  Miss  Thorn- 
hill  down  our  throats.     That's  his  game. 

James. 
[Between  his  teeth."]    By  George ! 

PONTING. 

And  then  you  get  Mr.  Vallance,  your  own  lawyer 

James. 
[Sitting  in  a  chair  on  the  right.]   Aye,  I'm  a  bit  disap- 
pointed with  Vallance. 

PONTING. 

Dogmatizing  about  what  is  just  and  what  is  fitting 

Stephen. 
Hear,  hear,  Colonel!     You   don't  pay  a  sohcitor  to 
take  sides  against  you. 

James. 
As  if  we  couldn't  be  trusted  to  do  the  fair  thing  of  our 
own  accord  ! 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  35 

PONTING. 

The  upshot  being  that  Miss  Thornhill,  supported 
openly  by  the  one,  and  tacitly  by  the  other,  will  be 
marching  in  here  and — and 

James. 
Kicking  up  a  rumpus. 

PONTING. 

I  shouldn't  be  surprised. 

Louisa. 
A  rumpus!    \_Sitting  upon  the  settee  on  the  left."]   She 

wouldn't  dare. 

Ann. 
[Rising.^  That  would  be  terrible — a  rumpus 

Rose. 
[/«  the  7niddle  of  the  room.']    I  shouldn't  be  surprised 
either.     You  mustn't  expect  too  much,  you  know,  from 
a  girl  who's 

Stephen. 
[^Interpreting  Rose's  shrug.']  Illegitimate. 

Ann. 
No,  I   suppose  we   oughtn't  to  expect  her  to  be  the 
same  as  our  children. 

PONTING. 

And  finally,  to  cap  it  all,  you  have  your  brother  Thad- 
deus — your  brother 

James. 
Ha,  yes !    Tad  obliged  us  with  a  pretty  stiff  lecture, 
didn't  he  ? 


36  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Louisa. 
So  did  Phyllis. 

Ann. 
[Seating  herself  beside  Louisa.]    It  was  Phyllis  who  be- 
gan it. 

Rose. 
[Swaying  herself  to  and  fro  upon  the  back  of  the  chair 
next  to  the  writing-table r^   Tad's  wife  !     She's  a  suitable 
person  to  be  lectured  by,  I  must  say. 

Stephen. 
Poor   old   Tad!     He   was  only  trying  to  excuse  her 
rudeness. 

Rose. 
Just  fancy  !     The  two  Tads  sharing  equally  with  our- 

selves ! 

Stephen. 
It  is  curious,  at  first  sight. 

Rose. 
Extraordinary. 

Stephen. 
But,  naturally,  the  law  makes  no  distinctions. 

Rose. 
No.     It  was  the  lady's  method  of  announcing  that  she's 
as  good  as  we  are. 

James. 
Tad  and  his  wife  with  forty  or  fifty  thousand  pound, 
p'r'aps,  to  play  with  !     So  the  world  wags. 


TEE    THUNDERBOLT  37 

Rose. 
Positively  maddening. 

Louisa. 
We  shall  see  Phyllis  aping  us  now  more  than  ever. 

Ann. 
And  making  that  boy  and  girl  of  hers  still  more  con- 
ceited. 

Louisa. 
They   needn't  let   apartments  any   longer ;   that's  a 
mercy. 

Ann. 
We  shall  be  spared  that  disgrace. 

James. 
Strong  language,  mother ! 

Stephen. 
Hardly  disgrace.     You  can't  call  the  curate  of  their 
parish  church  a  lodger  in  the  ordinary  sense  of  the  term. 

Louisa. 
Phyllis's  girl  might  make  a  match  of  it  with  Mr.  Trist 
in  a  couple  of  years'  time.     She's  fifteen. 

Ann. 
A  forward  fifteen. 

Rose. 
It's  a  fairy  story.     A  woman  who's  brought  nothing 
but  the  worst  of  luck  to  Tad  from  the  day  he  married 
her! 

James. 
The  devil's  luck. 


38  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Stephen. 
Been   his  ruin — his  ruin   professionally — without  the 
shadow  of  a  doubt. 

Louisa. 
Such  a  good-looking  fellow  he  used  to  be,  too. 

Ann. 
Handsome. 

Louisa. 
{^Archly.']   It  was  Tad  I  fell  in  love  with,  Stephen — not 
with  you. 

Stephen. 
And  popular.     Hed  have  had  the  conductorship  of  the 
choral  societies  but  for  his  mistake  ;    Rawlinson  would 
never  have  had  it.     Councillor  Pritchard   admitted   as 
much  at  a  committee-meeting. 

Ponting. 
{^Seated  upon   the  settee  on   the   right.'\    Butcher — the 
wife's  father — wasn't  he  ? 

Rose. 
Just  as  bad.     Old  Burdock  kept  a  grocer's  shop  at  the 
corner  of  East  Street. 

Stephen. 
West  Street. 

Rose. 
West  Street,  was  it?     She's  the  common  or  garden 
over-educated  petty-tradesman's  daughter. 

James. 
\_Oratoricany.'\   No,  no  ;  you  can't  ^z/^r educate.  Rose. 
Vou  can  wrongly  educate 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  89 

Rose. 
Oh,  don't  start  that,  Jim.    [To  Ponting.]  She  was  a 
pupil  of  Tad's. 

Stephen. 
[Holding  up  his  hands.']   Marriage — marriage ! 

Louisa. 
Stephen ! 

James. 
If  it  isn't  the  right  sort  o*  marriage  — • ! 

Stephen. 
Poor  old  Tad ! 

James. 
Rich  old  Tad  to-day,  though  !    [Chuckling,]   Ha,  ha ! 

Rose. 

[Glancing  at  the  door.']    Sssh ! 

[Thaddeus  returns.     The  others  look  down  their 
noses  or  at  disiatit  objects. 

Thaddeus. 

[Closing  the  door  and  advancing.]   I — I  hope  you're 
not  angry  with  Phyllis. 

Stephen. 
[Resignedly.]  Angry? 

Thaddeus. 
Or  with  me. 

Ann. 
Anger  would  be  out  of  place  in  a  house  of  mourning. 


40  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
Women's  tongues,  Tad  ! 

Stephen. 
Yes  ;  the  ladies — they  will  make  mischief. 

Louisa. 
Not  every  woman,  Stephen. 

Thaddeus. 
PhyUis  hasn't  the  slightest  desire  to  make  mischief. 
Why  on  earth  should  Phyl  want  to  make  mischief? 
[^Sitting  in  the  chair  in  the  middle  of  the  room.']  She's  a 
little  nervy — a  little  unstrung  ;  that's  what's  the  matter 
with  Phylhs. 

Louisa, 

There's  no  cause  for  her  to  be  specially  upset  that  I 
can  think  of. 

Ann. 
She  didn't  know  Edward  in  the  old  days  as  we  did. 

Thaddeus. 
No,  but  being  with  him  on  Wednesday  night,  when  the 
change  came — that's  affected  her  very  deeply,  poor  girl; 
bowled  her  over.    \_To  Rose.]    She  helped  to  nurse  him. 

Rose. 
^^Indifferently.]   One  of  the  nurses  cracked  up,  didn't 
she? 

James. 
The  night-nurse. 

Thaddeus. 
[^Nodding.]   Sent  word  late  on  Wednesday  afternoon 
that  she  couldn't  attend  to  her  duties. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  41 

Stephen. 
The  day-nurse  knocking  off  at  eight  o'clock !  Dreadful  I 

Thaddeus. 
There  we  were,  rushing  about  all  over  the  place — all 
over  the  place — to  find  a  substitute. 

James. 
And  no  success. 

Thaddeus. 
[^Rubbing  his  knees.]    There's  where  PhyUis  came  in 
handy  ;  there's  where  Phyl  came  in  handy. 

Louisa. 
PhylHs  hadn't  more  than  two  or  three  hours  of  it,  while 
Ann  and  I  were  resting,  when  all's  said  and  done. 

Ann. 
Not  more  than  two  or  three  hours  alone,  at  the  out- 
side. 

Thaddeus. 
No  ;  but,  as  I  say,  it  was  during  those  two  or  three 
hours  that  the  change  set  in.     It's  been  a  shock  to  her. 

Louisa. 
The  truth  is,  Phylhs  delights  in  making  a  fuss,  Tad. 

Thaddeus. 
Phyl ! 

Ann. 
She  loves  to  make  a  martyr  of  herself. 

Thaddeus. 
Phyl  does ! 


42  TEE  THUNDERBOLT 

Louisa. 
You  delight  to  make  a  martyr  of  her,  then ;  perhaps 
that's  it. 

Ann. 
I  suppose  you  do  it  to  hide  her  faults. 

Louisa. 
It  would  be  far  more  sensible  of  you,  Tad,  to  strive  to 
correct  them 

Ann. 
If  it's  not  too  late — far  more  sensible. 

Louisa. 
And  teach   her  a  different  system  of  managing  her 
home  — 

Ann. 
And  how  to  bring  up  her  children  more  in  keeping 

with  their  position 

Louisa. 
With  less  pride  and  display. 

Ann. 
They  treat  their  cousins  precisely  Uke  dirt. 

Louisa. 
Dirt  under  the  foot. 

Ann. 
Why  Phyllis  can't  be   satisfied  with  a  cook-general 
passes  my  comprehension 

Rose. 
\^lVearily.'\   Oh,  shut  up  I 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  43 

James. 
Steady,  mother ! 

Thaddeus. 
\Looking  at  them  all.']   Ah,  you've  never  liked  Phyllis 
from  the  beginning,  any  of  you. 

Louisa. 
Never  liked  her ! 

Thaddeus. 
Never  cottoned  to  her,  never  appreciated  her.     Oh,  I 
know — old  Mr.  Burdock's  shop!    \_Simply7\    Well,  Ann  ; 
well,  Lou  ;  shop  or  no  shop,  there's  no  better  wife — no 
better  woman — breathing  than  Phyl. 

Louisa. 
One  may  like  a  person  without  being  blind  to  short- 
comings. 

Ann. 
Nobody's  flawless — nobody. 

Louisa. 
There  are  two  sides  to  every  person  as  well  as  to  every 
question,  I  always  maintain. 

Thaddeus. 
However,  maybe  it  won't  matter  so  much  in  the  future. 
It  hasn't  made  things  easier  for  us  in  the  past.    [Snapping 
his  fingers  softly. '\    But  now • 

Stephen. 
\CausticaUy^    Henceforth  you  and  your  wife  will  be 
above  the  critical  opinion  of  others,  eh.  Tad  ? 


44  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
Aye,  Tad's  come  into  money  now.     Mind  what  you're 
at,  mother!     Be  careful,  Lou  !     Tad's  come  into  money. 

Thaddeus. 
[/«  a  quiet  voice,  but  clenching  his  hands  tightly. '\    My 
God,  I  hope  I  have!     I'm  not  a  hypocrite,  Jim.     My 
God,  I  hope  I  have  ! 

\The  door  opens  and  Elkin  appears, 

Elkin. 
Miss  Thornhill  is  here.  [There  is  a  general  7novement. 
Thaddeus  walks  away  to  the  fireplace.  James,  Ste- 
phen, and  PoNTiNG  also  rise  and  Rose  joitis  Ponting  at 
the  library-table.  Ann  and  Louisa  shake  out  their  skirts 
formidably,  their  husba?ids  taking  up  a  position  near  them. 
Helen  Thornhill  etiters,  followed  by  Vallance,  who 
closes  the  door.  Elkin /r«^;e/^  Helen.]  Miss  Thornhill. 
\To  Helen,  poi?itifig  to  the  group  on  the  left.']  These 
gentlemen  are  the  late  Mr.  Mortimore's  brothers.  [^Point- 
ing to  Rose,]    His  sister. 

Helen. 
[A  graceful,  brilliant-looking  girl  with  perfectly  refined 
maimers,  wearing  an  elegant  traveling-dress — almost  in- 
audibly.']   Oh,  yes. 

Elkin. 
[With  a  wave  of  the  hand  towards  the  others."]    Mem- 
bers of  the  family  by  marriage. 

[She  sits,  at  Elkin' s  invitation,  in  the  chair 
beside  the  writing-table.  The  attitude  of  the 
James  and  Stephen  Mortimores,  and  of 
the  Pontings,  undergoes  a  marked  change. 

James. 
[After  a  pause,  advancing  a  step  or  two.]    I'm  the 
eldest  brother.    [Awkwardly^   James,  I  am. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  45 

Stephen. 
[^Drawing  attention  to  hunseif  by  an  uneasy  cough.'] 
Stephen. 

Ann. 
\_Humbiy.'\   I'm  Mrs.  James. 

Louisa. 
[/«  the  safne  tone.]    Mrs.  Stephen. 

Rose. 

\_Seating  herself  on  the  left  of  the  library-table.']   Rose — 
Mrs.  Ponting.    [^Glancing  at  Ponting.]    My  husband. 

Thaddeus. 
[Now  standing  behitid  the  writing-table^    Thaddeus. 

My  wife  is  up-stairs,  trying  on  her 

\He  checks  himself  a7id  retreats,  again  sitting  at 
the  centre  window. 

James. 
\Seating  himself  at  the  writing-table 7\   Tired,  I  dessay  ? 

Helen. 
\_Wlio  has  received  the  various  announcements  with  a 
dignified  inclination  of  the  head.]    A  httle. 

Stephen. 
[^Bringing  forward  the  armchair  from  the  fireplace^ 
You   weren't  in   Paris,    Mr.    Elkin   tells   us,    when   his 
letter ? 

Helen. 
No ;  I  was  nearly  a  nine  hours'  journey  from  Paris, 
staying  with  friends  at  St.  Etienne. 


46  TEE  THUNDERBOLT 

Rose. 
A  pity. 

Louisa. 
Great  pity. 

Helen. 
Mr.  Elkin's  letter  was  re-posted  and  reached  me  on 
Wednesday.     I  got  back  to  Paris  that  night. 

Elkin. 
[Seating  himself  beside  kerJ]   And  had  a  hard  day's 
traveling  again  yesterday. 

Stephen. 
[Sitting  in  the  armchair^   She  must  be  worn  out. 

Ann. 
Indeed  she  must. 

PONTING. 

[Sitting  by  Rose.]    Hot  weather,  too.    Most  exhausting. 

Elkin. 
[  To  Helen.]   And  you  were  out  and  about  this  morn- 
ing with  Mrs.  Elkin  before  eight,  I  heard  ? 

Helen.  * 

She  brought  me  round  here. 

Elkin. 
[Sympathetic ally. "l    Ah,  yes. 

James. 
Round  here  ?   [Elkin  motions  significantly  towards  the 
ceiling.']   Oh — aye.   [After   another  pause^  to   Helen.] 
When  did  you  see  him  last — aUve  ? 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  47 

Helen. 
In  April.  He  spent  Easter  with  me.  \Unobtrusively 
opening  a  little  bag  which  she  carries  and  taking  out  a 
handkerchief. '\  We  always  spent  our  holidays  together. 
\^Drying  her  eyes.]  I  was  to  have  met  him  at  Rouen  on 
the  fifteenth  of  next  month  ;  we  were  going  to  Etretat. 

Elkin. 
\_A/ter  a  further  silence.]     Er — h'm  ! — the   principal 
business  we  are  here  to  discuss  is,  I  presume,  the  question 
of  Miss  Thornhill's  future. 

Helen. 
[^Quickly.]   Oh,  no,  please. 

Elkin. 
No? 

Helen. 
If  you  don't  mind,  I  would  rather  my  future  were  taken 
for  granted,  Mr.  Elkin,  without  any  discussion. 

Elkin. 
Taken  for  granted  ? 

Helen. 
I  am  no  worse  off  than  thousands  of  other  young 
women  who  are  suddenly  thrown  upon  their  own  re- 
sources. I'm  a  great  deal  better  off  than  many,  for  there's 
a  caUing  already  open  to  me — art.  My  prospects  don't 
daunt  me  in  the  least. 

Elkin. 

No,  no  ;  nobody  wants  to  discourage  you 

Helen. 
\Interrupting  Elkin.]    I  confess — I  confess  I  am  dis- 
appointed— hurt — that  father  hasn't  made  even  a  slight 


48  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

provision  for  me — not  for  the  money's  sake,  but  because 
— because  I  meant  so  much  to  him,  I've  always  believed. 
He  would  hdiVQ  made  me  secure  if  he  had  lived  longer,  I 
am  convinced. 

Elkin. 
[Soothingly.']   Not  improbable  ;  not  improbable. 

Helen. 
But  I  don't  intend  to  let  my  mind  dwell  on  that.  What 
I  do  intend  to  think  is  that,  in  leaving  me  with  merely 
my  education  and  the  capacity  for  earning  my  living,  he 
has  done  more  for  my  happiness — my  real  happiness — 
than  if  he  had  left  me  every  penny  he  possessed.  With 
no  incentive  to  work,  I  might  have  drifted  by  and  by  into 
an  idle,  aimless  life.     I  should  have  done  so. 

Stephen. 
A  very  rational  view  to  take  of  it. 

PONTING. 

Admirable  ! 

[  There  is  a  nodding  of  heads  and  a  murmur  of  ap- 
proval from  the  ladies. 

Elkin. 
Very  admirable  and  praiseworthy.  \To  the  others^ 
diplomatic  ally. '\  But  we  are  not  to  conclude  that  Miss 
Thornhill  declines  to  entertain  the  idea  of  some— some 
arrangement  which  would  enable  her  to  embark  upon  her 
artistic  career 

Helen. 
Yes,  you  are.     I  don't  need  assistance,  and  I  couldn't 
accept    it.     [^Flaring    up.']    I    will   accept    nothing    that 
hasn't    come    to   me   direct  from  my   father — nothing. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  49 

f/em'ng-.']   But  I  am  none  the  less  grateful  to  you,  dear 
;r.  Elkin — \looking  round'\  to  everybody — for  this  kind- 
ness. 

Stephen. 
[  With  a  sigk.']   So  be  it ;  so  be  it,  if  it  must  be  so. 

PONTING. 

We  don't  wish  io  force  assistance  upon  Miss  Thornhill. 

Stephen. 
On  the   contrary  ;  we   respect  her  independence   of 
character. 

[Elkin  shrugs  his  shoulders  at  Vallance,  who  is 
now  seated  upon  the  settee  on  the  right. 

James. 
{Stroking  his  beard."]   Art — art.     You've  been  studying 
painting,  haven't  you? 

Helen. 
At  Julian's,  in  the  Rue  de  Berri,  for  three  years — for 
pleasure,  I  imagined. 

James. 
{Glancing  furtively  at  Ann.]    D'ye  do  oil  portraits — 
family  groups  and  so  on  ? 

Helen. 
I'm  not    very    successful   as   a  colorist.     Black  and 
white  is  what  I  am  best  at. 

James. 
{Dubiously.']    Black  and  white 

Stephen. 
Is  there  much  demand  for  that  form  of  art  in  Paris  ? 


60  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Helen. 
Paris  ?    Oh,  I  shall  come  to  London. 

James. 
London,  eh  ? 

Helen. 
My  drawing  isn't  quite  good  enough  for  over  there. 
It's  only  good  enough  for  England.  I  shall  sell  my  jew- 
ellery and  furniture — I'm  sharing  a  flat  in  the  Avenue  de 
Messine  with  an  American  girl — and  that  will  carry  me 
along  excellently  till  I'm  fairly  started.  Oh,  I  shall  do 
very  well. 

Rose. 
I  hve  in  London.     My  house  will  be  somewhere  for 
you  to  drop  into,  whenever  you  feel  inclined. 

Helen. 
Thank  you. 

PONTING. 

\Pulling  at  his  moustache. 'I   Often  as  you  like — often  as 

you  like 

Rose. 
{Loftily^   As  I  am  in  "society,"  as  they  call  it,  that 
will  be  nice  for  you. 

James. 
\To  Ann.]    Now,  then,  mother,  don't  you  be  behind- 
hand   

Ann. 
I'm  sure  I  shall  be  very  pleased  if  Miss  Thornton  — 

A  Murmur. 
Thornhill 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  61* 

Ann. 
If  she'll  pay  us  a  visit.     We're  homely  people,  but  she 
and  Cissy  could  play  tennis  all  day  long. 

Louisa. 

If  she   does  come  to  Singlehampton,  she  mustn't  go 

away  without  staying  a  day  or  two  in  the  Crescent.    [To 

Helen.]    Do  you  play  chess,  dear?    [U.¥.lr^  shakes  her 

head.']   My  husband  will  teach  you — won't  you,  Stephen  ? 

Stephen. 
Honored. 

Thaddeus. 
\lVJio  has  risen  and  come  forward.']    I'm  sorry  my  wife 
isn  t  here.     We  should  be  grieved  if  Miss  Thornhill  left 
us  out  in  the  cold. 

Helen. 
[Looking  at  him  with  interest.]   You  are  father's  mu- 
sical brother,  aren't  you? 

Thaddeus. 
Yes— Tad. 

Helen. 
[With  a  faint  s?m7e.]    I  promise  not  to  leave  you  out 
in  the  cold.    [To  everybody.]    I  can  only  repeat,  I  am  most 
grateful.    [To  Elkin,  adout  to  rise.]    Mrs.  Elkin  is  wait- 
ing for  me,  to  take  me  to  the  dressmaker 

Elkin. 

[Detaining  her.]  One  moment — one  moment.  [To  the 
others^  Gentlemen,  Mr.  Vallance  and  I  have  had  our 
little  talk  and  we  agree  that  the  proper  course  to  pursue 
in  the  matter  of  the  late  Mr.  Mortimore's  estate  is  to 
proceed  at  once  to  insert  an  advertisement  in  the  public 
journals. 


62  THE  THUNDEBBOLT 

James. 
An  advertisement  ? 

Elkin. 
With  the  object  of  obtaining  information  respecting  any 
will  which  he  may  have  made  at  any  time. 

James. 
\Afterapause.'\    Oh — very  good. 

Stephen. 
[^Coldly. '\    Does  Mr.  Vallance  really  advise  that  this  is 
the  proper  course  ? 

[Vallance  rises  and  Thaddeus  again  retires. 

Vallance. 
[^Assentingly."^    In   the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the 
case. 

Elkin. 
We  propose  also  to  go  a  step  further.     We  propose  to 
circularize. 

James. 
Circularize  ? 

PONTING. 

[^DisturbedJ]   What  the  dev— what's  that? 

Elkin. 
We  propose  to  address  a  circular  to  every  solicitor  in 
the  law-list  asking  for  such  information. 

Helen. 
[To  Elkin.]   Is  this  necessary  ? 

Elkin. 
Mr.  Vallance  will  tell  us 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  53 

Vallance. 
It  comes  under  the  head  of  taking  all  reasonable  meas- 
ures to  find  a  will. 

Helen. 
\Looking  round.']    I — I  sincerely  hope  that  no  one  will 
think  that  it  is  on  my  behalf  that  Mr.  Elkin 

Elkin. 
{^Checking  her.']    My  dear,  these  are  formal,  and  ami- 
cable,   proceedings,    to   which    everybody,  we    suggest, 
should  be  a  party. 

Vallance. 
Everybody. 

Elkin. 
\_Invitingly.']    Everybody. 

James. 
\_Breaking  a  chilly  silence.]   All  right.     Go  ahead,  Mr. 
Elkin.    [r^  Stephen.]    We're  willing? 

Stephen. 
Why  not ;  why  not  ?   Rose ? 

Rose. 
[Hastily.]   Oh,  certainly. 

Vallance. 
\To  James.]    I  have  your  authority,  Mr.  Mortimore, 
for  acting  with  Mr.  Elkin  in  this  matter? 

James. 
You  have,  sir. 


64  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Elkin. 
{To  Vallance,  rising.']   Will  you  come  round  to  my 
office  with  me  ? 

[Helen  rises  with  Elkin,  whereupon  the  other 
men  get  to  their  feet.  Ann  and  Louisa  also 
rise  as  Helen  comes  to  them  and  offers  her 
hand. 

Ann. 
[Shaking  hands.']   We're  at  the  Grand  Hotel 

Louisa. 
[Shaking  hands.]   So  am  I  and  my  husband. 

Helen. 
I'll  call,  if  I  may. 

[She  shakes  hands  with  Stephen  and  James  and 
goes  to  Rose. 

Rose. 
[Rising  to  shake  hands  with  her.]   We're  at  the  Grand 
too.     Colonel  Ponting  and  I  would  be  delighted 

Ponting. 

Delighted. 

[Helen  7nerely  bows  to  Ponting  ;  then  she  shakes 
hands  with  Thaddeus  and  passes  out  into  the 
hall. 

Elkin. 
[Who  has  opened  the  door  for  Helen— /^  everybody, 
genially.]   Good-day  ;  good-day. 

James  and  Stephen. 

Good-day,  Mr.  Elkin.     Good-day. 

[Elkin  follows  Helen- 


TEE  THUNDERBOLT  55 

Vallance. 

\_At  the  door— to  James  and  Stephen.]  Where  can  I 
see  you  later  ? 

James. 
The  Grand.     Food  at  half-past  one. 

Vallance. 
Thank  you  very  much. 

\_He  bows  to  the  ladies  and  withdraws ^  closing  the 

door  after  hitn. 

PONTING. 

[^Pacing  the   room  indignatttly^    I  wouldn't  give  the 
fellow  so  much  as  a  dry  biscuit ! 

\There  is  a  general  break  up,  Ann  and  LOUISA 
joining  Rose  on  the  right, 

James. 
{Pacifically^    Oh,  there's  no  occasion  to  upset  your- 
self, Colonel. 

PONTING. 

\On  the  left. '^    I  wouldn't!     I  wouldn't!     He's  against 
us  on  every  point. 

James. 
Let  'em  advertise,  if  it  amuses  'em.    [In  an  outburst^ 
Let  'em  advertise  and  circularize  till  they're  blue  in  the 
face. 

Rose. 
[With  a  shrill laugh.l  Jim!   Ha!  ha!  ha! 

Ann  and  Louisa. 
[Solemnly.']    Hus — s — sh  ! 


56  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
[Dropping  to  a  whisper.']   Oh,  I — I  forgot. 

Stephen. 
Yes,  yes,  yes  ;  it's  nothing  more  than  a  lawyer's  trick, 
to  swell  their  bill  of  costs. 

James. 

Of  course  it  isn't ;  of  course  it  isn't.  [^Passing  his  hand 
under  his  beard.]  I  want  some  air,  mother.  Get  out  o' 
this. 

Ann. 
{^Fastening  her  mantled]    You've  an  appointment  at  the 
tailor's,  remember. 

Stephen. 
[Looking  at  his  watch.]    So  have  I. 

James. 
Are  you  coming.  Colonel  ?   [Finding  himself  in  the  cen- 
tre of  a  group — with  a  change  of  manner.]    1  say:  What 
a  beautiful  girl,  this  girl  of  Ned's  ! 

Stephen. 
Exceedingly. 

Ponting. 
[Producing his  cigarette-case.]  Charming  young  woman. 

Ann  and  Louisa. 
Lovely.     A  lovely  girl. 

Rose. 
Quite  presentable. 

James. 
And  she  doesn't  ask  a  shilUng  of  us — not  a  bob. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  67 

Stephen. 
She  impressed  me  enormously. 

PONTING. 

[_An    unlighted   cigarette   in   his   mouthy    Charming ; 
charming, 

James. 
Ned  ought  to  have  left  her  a  bit  ;  he  ought  to  have  left 
her  a  bit.     [Resolutely 7^    Mother — we'll  have  her  down 
home. 

Stephen. 

We  must  tell  some  fib  or  other  as  to  who  she  is.     Yes, 
we'll  show  her  a  little  hospitality. 

PONTING. 

And  Rose — in  London.     That'll  make  it  up  to  her. 

Rose. 
Yes,  that'll  make  it  up  to  her. 

[  The  ladies  move  into  the  hall;  the  men  follow. 

James. 
[/«  the  doorway — to  Thaddeus,  who  is  now  seated  at 
the  writifig-table.']    Tad,  I'll  stand  you  and  your  wife  a 
good  lunch.     One-thirty. 

[Thaddeus  nods  acceptance  and  James  goes  after 
the  others.  Thaddeus  rises,  and,  lookiiig 
through  the  blind  of  the  middle  window,  watches 
them  depart.  Presetitly  Phyllis  appears^  put- 
ting on  her  gloves. 

Phyllis. 

\At   the   dooTy  drawing  a  breath  of  relief^  They've 

gone. 


58  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Thaddeus. 
[Turning:]   Is  that  you,  Phyl  ? 

Phyllis. 
[Coming  further  into  the  roo?n.']   I've  been  waiting  on 
the  landing. 

Thaddeus. 
Why  didn't  you  come  back,  dear?    You've  missed 
Miss  Thornhill. 

Phyllis. 
[Walking  away  to  the  left,  working  at  the  fingers  of  a 
glove.']    Yes,  I — I  know. 

Thaddeus. 
The  very  person  we  were  all  here  to  meet. 

Phyllis. 
I— I  came  over  nervous.    [Eagerly.]   What  is  she  like  ? 

Thaddeus. 
Such  an  aristocratic-looking  girl. 

Phyllis. 
Is  she — is  she  ? 

Thaddeus. 
I'll  tell  you  all  about  her  by  and  by.    [Pushing the  door 
to  and  coming  to  Phyllis,  anxiously.]  What  do  you  think 
they're  going  to  do  now,  Phyl? 

Phyllis. 
Who? 

Thaddeus. 
The  lawyers.    They're  going  to  advertise. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  50 

Phyllis. 


Advertise  ? 


Thaddeus. 
In  the  papers — to  try  to  discover  a  will, 

Phyllis. 
I — I  suppose  that's  a  mere  matter  of  form  ? 

Thaddeus. 
Elkin  and  Vallance  say  so.     According  to  Stephen, 
it's  simply  a  lawyer's  dodge  to  run  up  costs.    [^Brtghiett' 
ing.']   Anyhow,  we  mustn't  complain,  where  a  big  estate 
is  involved 

Phyllis. 
Is  it — such  a — big  estate  ? 

Thaddeus. 
Guess. 

Phyllis. 

I  can". 

Thaddeus. 
[^Coming  closer  to  her."]    I  heard  Elkin's  managing-clerk 
tell  Jim  and  the  Colonel  this  morning  that  poor  Ned  may 
have  died  worth  anything  between  a  hundred  and  fifty 
and  two  hundred  thousand  pounds. 

Phyllis. 
[Faintiy.l   Two  hundred  thousand  — ! 

Thaddeus. 
Yes. 


60  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Phyllis. 

Oh,  Tad ! 

[She  sits,  on  the  settee  on  the  left,  leaning  her  head 
upon  her  hands. 

Thaddeus. 
Splitting  the  difference,  and  allowing  for  death  duties, 
our  share  would  be  close  upon  forty  thousand.  To  be  on 
the  safe  side,  put  it  at  thirty-nine  thousand.  Thirty-nine 
thousand  pounds !  [Moving  about  the  room  excitedly. '\ 
I've  been  reckoning.  Invest  that  at  four  per  cent. — one 
is  justified  in  calculating  upon  a  four  per  cent,  basis— in- 
vest thirty-nine  thousand  at  four  per  cent.,  and  there  you 
have  an  income  of  over  fifteen  hundred  a  year.  Fifteen 
hundred  a  year !  [Returning  to  her.']  When  we  die, 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  a  year  for  Joyce,  seven  hundred 
and  fifty  for  Cyril  !  [She  rises  quickly  and  clings  to  him, 
burying  her  head  upon  his  shoulder  and  clutching  at  the 
lapel  of  his  coat.]  Poor  old  lady  !  [Putting  his  arms 
round  her]  Poor  old  lady  !  You've  gone  through  such 
a  lot,  haven't  you  ? 

Phyllis. 
[Sobbing.]    We  both  have. 

Thaddeus. 
Sixteen  years  of  it. 

Phyllis. 
Sixteen  years. 

Thaddeus. 
Of  struggle — struggle  and  failure. 

Phyllis. 
Failure  brought  upon  you  by  your  wife — by  me. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  61 

Thaddeus. 
Nonsense — nonsense 

Phyllis. 
You  always  call  it  nonsense  ;  you  know  it's  true.     If 
you  hadn't  married  me — if  you'd  married  a  girl  of  better 
family — you  wouldn't  have  lost  caste  in  the  town 

Thaddeus. 
Hush,  hush  !     Don't  cry,  Phyl ;  don't  cry,  old  lady. 

Phyllis. 
You'd  have  had  the  choral  societies,  and  the   High 
School,  and  the  organ  at  All  Saints ;    you'd  have  been  at 
the  top  of  the  tree  long  ago.     You  know  you  would  ! 

Thaddeus. 

[^Rallying  her.']   And  if  you  hadn't  married  me,  you 

might  have  captivated  a  gay  young  officer  at  Claybrook 

and  got  to  London  eventually.     Rose  did  it.  and  you 

might  have  done  it.     So  that  makes  us  quits.     Don't  cry. 

Phyllis. 
{Gradually  regaining  her  composure.]    There  was  a 
young  fellow  at  the  barracks  who  was  after  me. 

Thaddeus. 
{Nodding.]   You  were  prettier  than  Rose,  a  smarter 
girl  altogether. 

Phyllis. 
{Drying  her  eyes.]    I'll  be  smart  again  now,  dear.    I'm 
only  thirty-five.     What's  thirty-five  ! 

Thaddeus. 
The  children  won't  swallow  up  everything  now,  will 
they? 


62  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

/ 

Phyllis. 
No;   but  Joyce  shall  look  sweeter  and  daintier  than 
ever,  though. 

Thaddeus. 
Cyril  shall  have  a  first-class,  public-school  education  ; 
that   I'm  determined  upon.     There's  Rugby — Rugby's 
the  nearest — or  Malvern 

Phyllis, 
{^With   a  catch  in  her  breathJ]     Oh,  but — Tad — we'll 
leave  Singlehampton,  won't  we? 

Thaddeus. 
Permanently  ? 

Phyllis. 
Yes — yes 

Thaddeus. 
Won't  that  be  rather  a  mistake  ? 

Phyllis. 
A  mistake ! 

Thaddeus. 
Just  as  we're  able  to  hold  up  our  heads  in  the  town. 

Phyllis. 
We  should   never  be   able   to  hold  up  our  heads  in 
Singlehampton.     If  we  were  clothed  in  gold,  we  should 
still  be  lepers  underneath ;  the  curse  would  still  rest  on 
us. 

Thaddeus. 
[Bewiidered.']   But  where — where  shall  we  —  ? 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  63 

Phyllis. 
I  don't  care — anywhere,  [^Passionately.']  Anywhere 
where  I'm  not  sneered  at  for  bringing  up  my  children 
decently,  and  for  making  my  home  more  tasteful  than 
my  neighbors'  ;  anywhere  where  it  isn't  known  that 
I'm  the  daughter  of  a  small  shopkeeper — the  daughter 
of  "old  Burdock  of  West  Street"  !  [Imploringly.]  Oh, 
Tad ! 

Thaddeus. 

You're   right.     Nothing   is   ever  forgiven   you   in  the 
place  you're  born  in.     We'll  clear  out. 

Phyllis. 
[Slipping  her  arm  through  his.~\    When — when  will  you 
get  me  away  ? 

Thaddeus. 

Directly,  directly  ;  as  soon  as  the  lawyers 

[He  pauses,  looking  at  her  blankly. 

Phyllis. 
[Frightened.]    What's  the  matter? 

Thaddeus. 
We — we're  talking  as  if — as  if  Ned's  money  is  already 

»urs  ! 

Phyllis. 
[  Withdrawing  her  arm — steadily.]    It  will  be. 

Thaddeus. 
Will  it,  do  you  think ? 

Phyllis. 
\With  an  expressionless  face.]    I  prophesy — it  will  be. 
[Heath     enters     and,    seeing    Thaddeus     and 
Phyllis,  draws  back. 


64  THE   THUNDERBOLT 

Heath. 
I'm  sorry,  sir.     I  thought  the  room  was  empty. 

Thaddeus. 
We're  going.     [^As  he  and  Phyllis  pass  out  into  the 
hail.']    Don't  come  to  the  door. 

Heath. 

Thank  you,  sir. 

[Heath  quietly  atid  methodically  replaces  the 
chair  at  the  window  on  the  right.  Then, 
after  a  last  look  round,  he  switches  off  the 
lights  and  leaves  the  room  again  in  gloom. 


END  OF  THE  FIRST  ACT 


THE  SECOND  ACT 

The  scene  represents  the  drawing-room  of  a  modern y  cheaply^ 
built  villa.  In  the  wall  at  the  back  are  two  windows. 
One  is  a  bay-window  provided  with  a  window-seat ;  the 
other y  the  window  on  the  right y  opens  to  the  ground  into 
a  small  garden.  At  the  bottom  of  the  garden  a  paling 
runs  from  left  to  right y  and  in  the  paling  there  is  a 
gate  which  gives  access  to  a  narrow  lane.  Beyond  are 
the  gardens  and  backs  of  other  houses. 

The  fireplace  is  on  the  right  of  the  roomy  the  door  on  the 
left.  A  grand  pianoforte y  with  its  head  towards  the 
windowsy  and  a  music-stool  occupy  the  middle  of  the 
room.  On  the  right  of  the  music-stool  there  is  an  arm- 
chair, and  against  the  piano y  facing  the  fireplace,  there 
is  a  settee.  Another  settee  faces  the  audience  at  the 
further  end  of  the  fireplace,  and  on  the  nearer  side, 
opposite  this  settee,  is  an  armchair.  Also  on  the  right 
handy  but  nearer  to  the  spectator y  there  is  a  round  table. 
An  ottoman,  opposing  the  settee  by  the  piano,  stands  close 
to  the  table. 

At  the  end  of  the  piano  there  is  a  small  table  with  an  arm- 
chair on  its  right  and  left,  and  on  the  extreme  left  of 
the  room  stands  another  armchair  with  a  still  smaller 
table  beside  it.  On  the  left  of  the  bay-window  there  is 
a  writing-table,  and  in  front  of  the  writing-table y  but 
turned  to  the  window  y  a  chair.  Other  articles  of  fur- 
niture fill  spaces  against  the  walls. 

There  is  a  mirror  over  the  fireplace  and  a  clock  on  the 
65 


66  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

mantel-shelf y  and  lying  upon  the  round  table  are  a  hat 

and  a  pair  of  gloves  belonging  to  Helen.  Some  flowers 
in  pots  hide  the  empty  grate. 

The  room  and  everything  in  the  room  are  eloquent  of  nar- 
row means y  if  not  of  actual  poverty.  But  the  way  in 
which  the  cheap  furniture  is  dressed  up,  and  the  manner 
of  its  arrangement  about  the  room,  give  evidence  of  taste 
and  refinement. 

The  garden  is  full  of  the  bright  sunshine  of  a  fine  July 
afternoon. 

Thaddeus  is  at  the  piano  accompanying  a  sentimental  ballad 
which  Trist,  standing  beside  him,  is  singing.  Phyllis, 
looking  more  haggard  than  when  last  seen,  is  on  the 
settee  by  the  fireplace.  Her  hands  lie  idly  upon  some 
needlework  in  her  lap  and  she  is  in  deep  thought. 
Helen,  engaged  in  making  a  sketch  of  Joyce  and 
Cyril,  who  are  facing  her,  is  sitting  in  the  chair  on 
the  right  of  the  table  at  the  end  of  the  piano.  A 
drawing-block  is  on  her  knees  and  a  box  of  crayons  on 
the  table  at  her  elbow.  Helen  and  the  Thaddeus 
MoRTiMORES  are  dressed  in  mourning,  but  not  oppress- 
ively so, 

Thaddeus. 
\Taking  his  hands  from  the  key-board— to  Trist.]    No, 
no.     Fill  your  lungs,  man,  fill  your  lungs. 

[Phyllis,  roused  by  the  break  in  the  music,  picks 
up  her  work. 

Trist. 

\A  big,  healthy-looking,  curly-headed  young  fellow  in 
somewhat  shabby  clerical  clothes^  I'm  afraid  it's  no  good, 
my  dear  chap.  The  fact  is,  air  will  not  keep  in  my 
lungs. 


THE    THUNDERBOLT  67 

Thaddeus. 
[Starting  afresh  with  the  sy?nphony.']    Once  more 

Helen. 
[To  the  children^  softly.']    Do  you  want  a  rjsst  ? 

Cyril. 
[A  handsome  boy  of  fourteen,  standing  close  to  his  sister.^ 
No,  thanks. 

Joyce. 
[In  the  chair  on  the  extre^ne  left — a  slim,  serious  child, 
a  year  older  than  Cyril.]    Oh,  no  ;  don't  give  us  a  rest. 
\As  the  symphony  ends,  the  door  opens  a  little  way 
and  ]awe.s  pops  his  head  in. 

James. 
Hallo  ! 

Thaddeus. 
Hallo,  Jim ! 

[James  enters, followed  by  Stephen;  both  with 
an  air  of  bustle  and  self-importance.  They  also 
are  in  mourning,  are  gloved,  and  are  wearing 
their  hats  which  they  remove  on  entering. 

Stephen. 
May  we  come  in  ? 

James. 
Good-afternoon,  Mr.  Tnst. 

Stephen. 
How  do  you  do,  Mr.  Trist  ? 

Trist. 

[To  James   and  Stephen.]   How  are  you ;  how  are 

you  ? 


68  THE   THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
[7b  the  children,  /^mzw^  Joyce.]    Well,  kids!    \Shak- 
ing  hands  with  Helen.]    Well,  my  dear  !    {Crossing  to 
Phyllis,  who  rises.^    Don't  get  up,  Phyllis.     What's  this  ? 
You're  not  very  bobbish,  I  hear. 

Phyllis. 
^Nervous/y.']    It's  nothing. 

Thaddeus. 
{Tidying  his  music.']    She's  sleeping  badly  just  now, 
poor  old  lady. 

Stephen. 

[  Who  has  greeted  Helen  and  the  children— to  Phyllis.] 
Oh,  Phyllis,  Louisa  has  discovered  a  wonderful  cure  for 
sleeplessness  at  the  herbalist's  in  Crown  Street.  A  few 
dried  leaves  merely.  You  strew  them  under  the  bed  and 
the  effect  is  magical. 

James. 
Glass  of  warm  milk's  my  remedy 

Stephen. 
Eighteen-pence  an  ounce,  it  costs. 

James. 
Not  that  sleeplessness  bothers  me. 

Phyllis. 
{Sitting  on   the   ottoman   and  resuming  her  work — to 
Stephen.]   Thank  you  for  telling  me  about  it. 

James. 
\To  Helen.]    Making  quite  a  long  stay  here. 

Helen. 
\SmiHng?[    Am  I  not? 


THE   THUNDERBOLT  69 

Stephen. 
You  and  Phyllis,  Tad,  are  more  honored  than  we  were 
in  the  Crescent. 

James. 
Or  we  were  at  "  Ivanhoe."     She  was  only  a  couple  o' 
nights  with  us. 

Stephen. 
Less  with  us.     She  arrived  one  morning  and  left  the 
next. 

James. 
[7^7   Helen.]   Been  in   Nelson   Villas  over  a  week, 
haven't  you? 

Helen. 
[  Touching  her  drawing.']    Is  it  more  than  a  week  ? 

James. 
\_Looking  at  Helen's  drawing.']   Taking  the  young- 
sters' portraits,  too. 

Stephen. 
\_Also  ho  king  at  the  drawing.]    H*m  !     I  suppose  chil- 
dren are  difficult  subjects. 

Trist. 
[^Moving  towards  the  door — to   Helen.]   Miss  Thorn- 
hill,  don't  forget  your  engagement. 

Helen. 
[  To  Joyce  ana  Cyril.]   Mr.  Trist  is  going  to  treat  us 
to  the  flower-show  by  and  by. 

Cyril. 
Good  man ! 


70  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Joyce. 
Oh,  Mr.Trist! 

Stephen. 
\To  Trist.]    Not  driving  you  away,  I  hope  ? 

Trist. 
[At  the  door.']   No,  no ;  I've  some  work  to  do. 

\^He  withdraws.    Stephen  puts  his  hat  on  the  top 
of  the  piano. 

James. 
[^After  watching  the  door  close.]    Decent  sort  o'  young 
man,  that;  nothing  of  the  lodger  about  him. 

Stephen. 
I've   always   said   so.     \_To  Thaddeus,  lowering  his 
voice.]    Mr.  Trist  knows   how — er — h'm — poor  Edward 
left  his  affairs  ? 

Thaddeus. 
Everybody  does  ;  it's  all  over  the  town. 

Stephen. 
[^Resignedly.]   Yes  ;  impossible  to  keep  it  to  ourselves. 

James. 
Thanks  to  their  precious   advertisement.    \To  JOYCE 
and  Cyril,  loudly.]    Now,   then,   children  ;  be  off  with 
you !     I  want  to  talk  to  your  father  and  mother. 

Joyce. 
[To  Helen.]     Will  you  excuse  us? 

Cyril. 
Awfully  sorry,  Helen. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  71 

[The  children  pass  through  the  open  window  into 
the  garden  and  disappear.  Helen  rises  and, 
having  laid  her  drawing-block  aside,  isfolloW' 
ing  them. 

James. 
\To  Helen.]   Not  you,  my  dear.     You're  welcome  to 
hear  our  business. 

Helen. 
Oh,  no ;  you  mustn't  let  me  intrude. 

Stephen. 
I  think  Helen  ought  to  hear  it.    [Helen  pauses,  stand- 
ing by  the  table  on  the  right ^^    I  think  she  ought  to  be 
made  aware  of  what's  going  on. 

James. 
Tad 

Thaddeus. 
\Coming forward.'\   Eh  ? 

James. 
The  meeting's  to  take  place  this  afternoon. 

[Phyllis  looks  up  from  her  work  suddenly ^  with 
parted  lips. 

Thaddeus. 
This  afternoon  ? 

Stephen, 
At  four  o'clock. 

Thaddeus. 
[Glancing  at  the  clock  on  the  mantelpiece, "^    It's  past 
three  now. 


72  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
\Placing  his  hat  on  the  table  at  the  end  of  the  piano  and 
sitting  at  the  left  of  the  table. '\    It's  been  fixed  up  at  last 
rather  in  a  hurry. 

Stephen. 
{Sitting  in  the  chair  on  the  extreme  left.']    We  didn't 
get  Elkin's  letter,  telling  us  he  was  coming  through,  till 
this  morning. 

Thaddeus. 
You  might  have  notified  us  earlier,  though,  one  of  you. 
Just  hke  you  fellows  ! 

Stephen. 
{Waving  his  artns.']    On  the  day  I  go  to  press  I've 
quite  enough  to  remember. 

James. 
[  To  Thaddeus,  roughly.]    It's  your  holiday -time  ;  what 
have  you  got  to  do?     An  hour's  notice  is  as  good  as  a 
week's. 

Stephen. 
[To  Helen.]   This  is  a  meeting  of  the  family,  Helen, 
to  be  held  at  my  brother's  house,  for  the  purpose  of — 
er 

Helen. 
[Advancing  a  little.]    Winding  matters  up  ? 

James. 
For  the  purpose  of  receiving  Elkin  and  Vallance's 
report. 

Helen. 
[Keenly.]   And  to ? 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  73 

James. 
And  to  decide  upon  the  administration  of  the  estate  on 
behalf  of  the  next-of-kin. 

Helen. 
In  my  words — wind  matters  up.    [^Witkan  appearance 
of  cheerfulness.']    Which  means  an  end  to  a  month's  sus- 
pense, doesn't  it  ? 

Thaddeus. 
\Apologeiically^    A  not  very  satisfactory  end  to  yours. 

Helen. 
To  mine?    {With  an  effortr]    Oh,  I— I've  suffered  no 
suspense,  Mr.  Tad.     Mr.  Elkin  has  kept  me  informed  of 
the  result  of  the  advertising  and  the  circularizing  from 
the  beginning. 

Thaddeus. 
But  there  has  been  no  result. 

Helen. 
No  result  h  the  result. 

Stephen. 

Exactly. 

\During  the  foil owi7ig  talk,  Helen  moves  away 
a7td  seats  herself  in  the  chair  by  the  head  of  the 
piano.  Phyllis  has  resumed  her  work  again, 
bending  over  it  so  that  her  face  is  almost  hidden. 

Thaddeus. 
\To  James  a«<f  Stephen.]   Will  Rose  and  the  Colonel 
be  down  ? 

James. 
We're  on  our  way  to  the  station  to  meet  "em. 


74  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Stephen. 
^Bitterly.']   Ha!    Will  they  be  down? 

Thaddeus. 
You  didn't  overlook  them,  evidently. 

James. 

\_Witk  a  growLI   No;  the  gallant  Colonel  doesn't  give 
us  much  chance  of  overlooking  him. 

Stephen. 
Colonel  Ponting  might  be  the  only  person  interested, 
judging  by  the  tone  he  adopts. 

James. 
A  nice  life  he's  been  leading  us  lately. 

Stephen. 
Elkin  and  Vallance  are  sick  of  him. 

James. 
Hasn't  two  penny  pieces  to  chnk  together ;  that's  the 
size  of  it. 

Stephen. 
A  man  may  be  hard  up  and  yet  behave  with  dignity. 

James. 
I  expect  the  decorators  are  asking  for  a  bit  on  the  nail. 

Thaddeus. 
\Sitting  on  the  right  of  the  table  at  the  end  of  the  piano  ^ 
Decorators  ? 

Stephen. 
\To  Thaddeus.]   Haven't  you  heard—? 

Thaddeus. 
No. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  76 

Stephen. 
The    magnificent    house    they've    taken    in    Carlos 
Place ? 

James. 
Close  to  Berkeley  Square. 

Stephen. 
[Correcting  James*  s  pronunciation.']    Barktlty  Square. 

James. 
Stables  and  motor-garridge  at  the  back. 

Stephen. 
Oh,  yes  ;  they're  decorating  and  furnishing  most  elab- 
orately.    Lou  had  a  note  from  Rose  a  day  or  two  since. 

James. 
He'll  strip  my  sister  of  every  penny  she's  come  into, 
if  she  doesn't  look  out. 

Stephen. 
The  gross  indehcacy  of  the  thing  is  what  offends  me. 
We  have  been  content  to  remain  passive. 


James. 
and  pro 

Stephen. 


And  I  fancy  our  plans  and  projects  are  as  important  as 
the  Colonel's. 


I  should  assume  so. 

James. 
\^To  Stephen,  ivitk  a  jerk  of  the  thumb  towards  Thad- 
DEUS.]    Shall  I ? 

Stephen. 
No  harm  in  it  now. 


76 


THE  THUNDERBOLT 


James. 
\_To     Thaddeus,     leaning    forward — impressively."^ 


Tad 

What? 

Thaddeus. 

James. 
That  land  at  the  bottom  of  Gordon  Street, 
allotment  grounds  are 

where  the 

Yes? 

Thaddeus. 

It's  mine. 

James. 

Yours,  Jim  ? 

Thaddeus. 

James. 
It  belongs  to  me.     I've  signed  the  contract  and  paid  a 

deposit. 

Thaddeus. 
What  do  you  intend  to  do  with  it  ? 

James. 
What  should  I  intend  to  do  with  it — eat  it  ?  I  intend 
to  build  there — build  the  finest  avenue  of  houses  in 
Singlehampton.  \_Rising  and  going  to  the  piano,  where 
he  traces  a  plan  on  the  lid  with  his  finger^  Look  here  ! 
[Thaddeus  joins  him  and  watches  the  tracing  of  the 
planJ]  Here's  Gordon  Street.  Here's  the  pub  at  the 
corner.  I  come  alone  here — straight  along  here — to 
Albert  Terrace.  Opposite  Albert  Terrace  I  take  in 
Clark's  piano  factory  ;  and  where  Clark's  factory  stands 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  Tl 

I  lay  out  an  ornamental  garden  with  a  fountain  in  the 
middle  of  it.  On  I  go  at  a  curve,  to  avoid  the  play- 
ground of  Fothergill's  school,  till  I  reach  Bolton's  store. 
He  stops  me,  but  I'll  squeeze  him  out  some  day,  as  sure 
as  my  name's  James  Henry  !  [To  Thaddeus.]  D'ye 
see? 

Thaddeus. 
\_Uncomfortabiy,  eyeing  Helen.]   Splendid  ;  splendid. 

James. 
[Moving  round  the  head  of  the  piano  to  the  right ^    Poor 
old  Ned  !     Ha  !  my  brother  won't  have  done  so  badly  by 
his  native  town  after  all. 

Thaddeus. 

[Under  his  breath,  trying  to  remind] AMES  ^Helen's 
presence."]   Jim — Jim 

James. 

[Obliviously,  comingupon  Helen.]    D'ye  know  the  spot 
we  re  talking  about,  my  dear  ? 

Helen. 
No. 

James. 

You   must  get   'em   to   walk  you   down   there.    [7b 
Phyllis.]   You  trot  her  down  there,  Phyllis. 

Phyllis. 
[  Without  raising  her  eyes  from  her  work.]    I  will. 

Stephen. 
\To  James.]   You  haven't  told  them  everything,  Jim. 


78  TEE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
{Sitting    upon   the  settee   by   the  piano.']    Haven't   I  ? 
{Mopping  his  brow.']    Oh,  your  offices 

Stephen. 
{To  everybody.]  It  isn't  of  the  greatest  importance,  per- 
haps, but  it's  part  of  James's  scheme  to  erect  an  excep- 
tionably  noble  building  in  the  new  road  to  provide  ade- 
quate printing  and  publishing  offices  for  the  Times  and 
Mirror. 

Thaddeus. 
What,  you're  not  deserting  King  Street,  Stephen  ? 

Stephen. 
{Rising  and  walking  to  the  fireplace.]   Yes,  I've  had 
enough  of  those  cramped,  poky  premises. 

Thaddeus. 
They  are  inconvenient. 

Stephen. 
{On  the  hearthrug,  facing  the  others^   And,  to  be  per- 
fectly frank,  I've  had  enough  of  Mr.  Hammond  and  the 
Courier. 

Thaddeus. 
I  don't  blame  you  there.     The  Courier  is  atrociously 
personal  occasionally. 

Stephen. 
{Pompously^    I  don't  say  it  because  Hammond  is,  in  a 
manner,  my  rival — I'm  not  so  small-minded  as  that — but 
I  do  say  that  he  is  a  vulgar  man  and  that  the  Courier  is 
a  vulgar  and  mischievous  journal. 

James. 
He's  up  to  date,  though,  is  Mister  Freddy  Hammond. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  7» 

Stephen. 

His  plant  is  slightly  more  modern  than  mine,  I  admit. 

James. 
[Chuckiing.']    Aye,  you'll  be  able  to  present  those  an- 
tediluvian printing-presses  of   yours  to  the  museum  as 
curiosities. 

Stephen. 
[  With  a  wave  of  the  hand.']  Anyhow,  the  construction 
of  Jim's  new  road  marks  a  new  era  in  the  life  of  the 
Times  and  Mirror.  \Leaving  the  fireplace.]  I'm  putting 
no  less  than  twelve  thousand  pounds  into  the  'dear  old 
paper,  Tad. 

Thaddeus. 
[Standing   by    the    table    on   the  left.]   Twelve   thou- 
sand   ! 

Stephen. 
How  will  that  agree  with  Mr.  Hammond's  digestion, 
eh?    Twelve  thousand  pounds  !    [C<7wz>z^/^  Thaddeus.] 
And  what  are  your  plans  for  the  future,  if  one  may  ask  ? 
You'll  leave  these  wretched  villas,  of  course  ? 

Thaddeus. 
\_Evasively.]    Oh,  I — I'm  waiting  till  this  law  business 
is  absolutely  settled. 

Stephen. 
[Hastily^    Quite  right ;  quite  right.     So  am  I ;  so  am 
I,  actually.     But  we  may  talk,  I  suppose,  among  our- 
selves   

James. 
\Looking  at  his  watch  and  rising."]   By  George  !     We 
shall  miss  Rose  and  the  Colonel. 


80  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Stephen. 
[Fetching  his  hai.l    Pish  !  the  Colonel, 

James. 
\Shaking  hands    hurriedly    with    Helen  who  rises."] 
Ta-ta,  my  dear.    ^As  he  passes  Phyllis.]   See  you  at  the 
meeting,  Phyllis. 

Stephen. 
\To  Helen,  across  the  piano.']   Good-bye,  Helen, 

James. 
[  Who  has  picked  up  his  hat,  at  the  doori]    Don't  be  late» 
Tad. 

Stephen. 
[At  the  door.]   No,  no  ;  don't  be  late. 

THADDEUSc 

Four  o'clock. 

Stephen. 

Sharp. 

[Thaddeus  follows  James  and  Stephen  into  the 

hall  and  returns  immediately. 

Thaddeus. 
{Closing  the  door.]   My  dear  Helen,  I  apologize  to  you 
most  hurnbly. 

Helen. 
{Coming forward.]    For  what? 

Thaddeus. 
For  Jim's  bad  taste,  and  Stephen's,  in  talking  before 
you  as  they've  been  doing. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  81 

Helen. 
Oh,  it's  of  no  consequence. 

Thaddeus. 
I  could  have  kicked  Jim. 

Helen. 
{^Impulsively.']  Mr.  Tad — \^giving  '■•'m  her  hand]  I 
congratulate  you.  {Going  to  Phyllis  and  kissing  her 
lightly  upon  the  cheek.]  I  congratulate  you  both  heartily. 
No  two  people  in  the  world  deserve  good  fortune  more 
than  you  do. 

Thaddeus. 
It's  extremely  kind  and  gracious  of  you  to  take  it  in  this 
way. 

Helen. 
Why,  in  what  other  way  could  I  take  it  ? 

Thaddeus. 
At  your  age,  you  mayn't  esteem  money  very  highly. 
But — there  are  other  considerations 

Helen. 
{Turning  away  and  seating  herself  upon  the  settee  by  the 
piano.]   Yes,  we  won't  speak  of  those. 

Thaddeus. 
{Walking  to  the  bay-window. \  And  there  was  just  a 
chance  that  the  inquiries  might  have  brought  a  will  to 
light — a  will  benefiting  you.  Though  you  were  anxious 
not  to  appear  unfriendly  to  the  family,  you  must  have 
reahzed  that. 

Helen. 
Whether  I  did  or  not,  it's  all  done  with  now  finally — 
finally.    {Blowing  the  subject  from  her.]    Phew  ! 


82  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Thaddeus. 
\_Hts  elbows  on  the  piano,  sneaking  across  it  to  Helen.  J 
Phyl  and  I  are  not  altogether  selfish  and  grasping.  She 
has  been  worrying  herself  to  death  these  last  few  days — 
haven't  you,  Phyl? — ever  since  we  heard  the  meeting 
was  near  at  hand. 

Phyllis. 
[In  a  low  voice,'\     Yes. 

Thaddeus. 
Ever  since  you  came  to  us,  in  fact. 

Helen. 
\_Jumping  upJ]   Ah,  what  a  nuisance  I've  been  to  you ! 
[Sitting  beside  Phyllis]     How  relieved  you'll  be  to  pack 
me  off  to-morrow  ! 

Thaddeus. 
To-morrow  ? 

[Uttering  a  little  sound,  Phyllis  stops  working 
and  stares  straight  before  her. 

Helen. 
[Slipping  an  arm  round  Phyllis' s  waist 7\  That  letter 
I  had  while  we  were  at  lunch — it  was  from  a  girl  who 
used  to  sit  next  to  me  at  Julian's,  She's  found  me  some 
capital  rooms,  she  says,  close  to  Regent's  Park,  and  I'm 
going  up  to  look  at  them.  [Thaddeus  comes  to  her.']  In 
any  event,  the  sooner  I  get  out  of  Singlehampton  the 
better. 

Thaddeus. 
Why? 

Helen. 
Everybody  in  the  town  eyes  me  so  queerly  ;  Fm  cer» 
tain  they  suspect. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  83 

Thaddeus. 
It's  your  imagination. 

Helen. 
It  isn't.    {Hesitatingly. '\   I— I've  confided  in  Mr.  Trist, 

Thaddeus. 
\Surprised.'\   Confided  in  Trist  ? 

Helen. 

\Nodding.'\    I   hated   the   idea  of  his  thinking  me — 

deceitful. 

Thaddeus. 

[Sitting  on  the  settee  by  the  piano.']  Trist  would  never 
have  guessed. 

Helen. 

Oh,  Mr.  Tad,  who,  in  heaven's  name,  that  wasn't 
born  yesterday  could  believe  the  story  of  my  being  simply 
a  protegee  of  father's,  the  daughter  of  an  old  business 
friend  of  his  ?  Your  brother  Stephen  may  be  an  excellent 
editor,  but  his  powers  of  invention  are  beneath  contempt. 

Thaddeus. 

[Laughing^  Ha,  ha,  ha  !  \_Rubbing  his  kneesJ]  That's 
one  for  Stephen  ;  that's  a  rap  for  Stephen, 

Helen. 

And  then,  again,  the  other  members  of  the  family  are 

becoming  so  horribly  jealous. 

Thaddeus. 
[Seriously."]   Ah,  yes. 


84  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Helen. 
You    noticed    your    brother's    remarks?     And    Mrs. 
James  and  Mrs.  Stephen  almost  cut  me  in  East  Street 
this  morning. 

Thaddeus. 
{Clenching  his  Jists.']    Thank  God,  we  shall  have  done 
with   that    sort   of  thing   directly  we  shake  the  dust  of 
Singlehampton  from  our  feet ! 

Helen. 

Directly  you ! 

Thaddeus. 
\_Gaily.']  There  !  Now  I've  let  the  cat  out  of  the  bag. 
Phylhs  will  tell  you.  You  tell  her,  Phyl.  {RisijigJ]  1 
promised  Rawhnson  I'd  help  him  index  his  madrigals 
this  afternoon  ;  I'll  run  round  to  him  and  explain.  [Paus- 
ing on  his  way  to  the  door.']  Helen,  you  must  be  our  first 
visitor  in  our  new  home,  wherever  we  pitch  our  tent. 
Make  that  a  bargain  with  her,  Phyl.  {At  the  door,  to 
Phyllis.]  We'll  start  at  ten  minutes  to,  old  lady.  Be 
ready. 

{He  disappears,  closing  the  door  after  him. 

Helen. 
{Rising  and  walking  away  to  the  left.']  Well !  I  do 
think  it  shabby  of  you,  Phyllis.  You  and  Mr.  Tad 
might  have  trusted  me  with  your  secret.  {Facing  her.] 
PhyUis,  wouldn't  it  be  glorious  if  you  came  to  London  to 
live — or  near  London?   Wouldn't  it' 

Phyllis. 
{In  a  strange,  quiet  voice,  her  hands  lying  quite  still 
upon  her  lap.]    Helen — Helen  dear 

Helen. 
Yes? 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  85 

Phyllis. 
That  morning,  a  month  ago,  in  Linchpool — while  we 
were  all  sitting  in  your  poor  father's  library  waiting  for 
you 

Helen. 
[Returning  to  her."]   On  the  Friday  morning 

Phyllis. 
There  was   a  discussion  as  to  making  you  an  allow- 
ance, and — \_her  eyes  avoiding  Helen's]  and  everybody 
was  most   anxious — most   anxious — that  you  should  be 
placed  upon  a  proper  footing. 

Helen. 
Mr.  Elkin  broached  the  subject  when  I  arrived.     You 
were  out  of  the  room. 

Phyllis. 
Yes.     And  you  declined 

Helen. 
Certainly.     I   gave  them  my  reasons.     Why  do  you 
bring  this  up? 

[Phyllis   rises,  laying  her  work  upon  the  table 
behind  her. 

Phyllis. 
\Drawing  a  deep  breath.~\    Helen — I  want  you  to  re- 
consider your  decision. 

Helen. 
Reconsider  it? 

Phyllis. 
I  want  you  to  reconsider  your  determination  not  to  ac- 
cept an  allowance  from  the  family. 


88  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Helen. 
Impossible. 

Phyllis. 

Oh,  don't  be  so  hasty.  Listen  first.  This  good  fortune 
of  ours — of  Tad's  and  mine — that  you've  congratulated 
us  upon — I  shall  never  enjoy  it 

Helen. 
llncredulously.1    Oh,  Phyllis ! 

Phyllis. 
I  shall  not.  It  will  never  bring  me  a  moment's  happi- 
ness unless  you  consent  to  receive  an  allowance  from  the 
family — [Helen  seats  herself  in  the  chair  on  the  exirejne 
left  with  her  back  to  Phyllis]  sufficient  to  give  you  a 
sense  of  independence 

Helen. 
I  couldn't. 

Phyllis. 
And  to  make  your  future  perfectly  safe. 

Helen. 
I  couldn't. 

Phyllis. 
\Entreatingly^   Do— do 

HeleNo 
It's  Qut  of  the  question. 

Phyllis. 
Please — ^for  my  sake ! 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  87 

Helen. 
TTuming  to  her.']    I'm  sorry  to  distress  you,  Phyllis; 
indeed  I'm  sorry.     But  when  you  see  me  gaining  some 
little  position  in  London,  through  my  work,  you'll  cease 
to  feel  miserable  about  me. 

Phyllis. 

Never — never 

Helen. 

[Stariing  up  and  waikmg  to  the  fireplace  impetuously^ 
Oh,  you  don't  understand  me — my  pride.  A  pensioner 
of  the  Mortimore  family  !  I !  How  can  you  suggest  it  ? 
I  refused  their  help  before  I  was  fully  acquainted  with 
these,  to  me,  uncongenial  relations  of  father's — I  don't 
include  Mr.  Tad  in  that  expression,  of  course  ;  and  now  I 
am  acquainted  with  them  I  would  refuse  it  a  thousand 
times.  If  I  were  starving,  I  wouldn't  put  myself  under 
the  smallest  obligation  to  the  Mortimores. 

Phyllis. 
\Unsteadily.'\    Obligation — to — the — Mortimores — obli- 
gation   !    \_As  if  about  to  make  some  comtnunicatioti  to 

Helen,  supporting  herself  by  leanitig  upon  the  table  on  the 
right,  her  body  bent  forward — almost  itiaudibly.]    Helen — 

Helen 

Helen. 

What ? 

[  There  is  a  ^hort  silence,  and  then  Phyllis  drops 
back  upon  the  settee  by  the  piano. 

Phyllis. 
\Rocking  herself  to  and  fro.]   Oh — oh,  dear — oh ! 

Helen. 
\Comi7tg  to  her  and  standing  over  her.]    You're  quite 
ill,  Phyllis  ;  your   bad    nights  are    taking  it  out  of  you 
dreadfully.     You  ought  to  have  the  advice  of  a  doctor. 


88  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Phyllis. 
[Weakly.']    No — don't  send  for  the  doctor  — 

Helen. 
Go  up  to  your  room,  then,  and  keep  quiet  till  Mr.  Tad 
calls  you.    \Glancing  at  the  clock^    You've  a  quarter  of 
an  hour 

Phyllis. 
{Clutching  Helen's  skirt.]    Helen — you're  fond  of  me 
and  Tad — you  said  yesterday  how  attached  you'd  grown 

to  us 

Helen. 
[Soothingly.]    I  am — I  am — very  fond  of  you. 

Phyllis. 

And  the  children ? 

Helen. 
Yes,  yes. 

Phyllis. 
My  poor  children ! 

Helen. 
Hush !  Why  poor  children  ?     Pull   yourself  together. 
Go  up  to  your  room. 

Phyllis. 
[Taking  Helen's  hand  and  caressing  it.]   Helen— if 
you  won't  accept  an  allowance  from  the  entire  family, 
accept  it  from  Tad  and  me. 

Helen. 
No,  no,  no. 

Phyllis. 
Four — three  hundred  a  year. 


No. 

Two  hundred. 
No. 


THE   THUNDERBOLT 
Helen, 

Phyllis. 

Helen. 


Phyllis. 
We  could  spare  it.     We  shouldn't  miss  it ;  we  should 


never  miss  it. 


Not  a  penny. 


Helen. 


Phyllis. 
\Risi7ig  and  gripping  Helen's  shoulders^   You  shall 

— you  shall  accept  it,  Helen. 

Helen. 
Phyllis!    \Releasing  herself  and  drawing  back.'l   PhylHs, 
you're  very  odd  to-day.     You've  got  this  allowance  idea 
on  the  brain.     Look  here  ;  don't  let's  mention  the  sub- 
ject again,  or  I — I  shall  be  offended. 

Phyllis. 
\DuUy,  hanging  her  head ^    All  right.     Very  well, 

Helen. 
Forgive  me.  It  happens  to  be  just  the  one  point  I'm 
sensitive  upon.  \Listening,  thengoing to  the  open  window.'] 
Here  are  the  children.  Do  go  up-stairs.  \Calli7tg  into 
the  gardefi.']  Hallo  !  [Phyllis  leaves  the  room  as  Cyril 
and  Joyce  appear  outside  the  window.  The  boy  is  carry- 
ing a  Jew  freshly-cut  roses.]  Now,  then,  children  !  Isn't 
itltime  we  routed  Mr.  Trist  out  of  his  study? 


90  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Cyril. 

\Eniering  and  going  towards  the  doorJ]   I'll  stir  the  old 

chap  up.    \_Remembering  the  nosegay. '\    Oh \Present- 

ing  it  to  Helen,  who  comes  forward  with  Joyce.]   Allow 
me 

Helen. 
For  me  ?     How  sweet  of  you !     {Placing  the  flowers 
against  her  belt  and  then  at  her  breast^    Where  shall  I 
wear  them — here,  or  here  ? 

Cyril. 
Anywhere  you  hke.    {Awkwardly."]    We  sha'n't  see 
anything  nicer  at  the  flower-show,  I'm  certr  in. 

Helen. 
No  ;  they're  beautiful. 

Cyril. 
{His  eyes  on  the  carpet.']    I  don't  mean  the  flowers— 

Helen. 
{Inclining  her  head.]  Thank  you.  {To  Cyril,  who 
again  makes  for  the  door.]  Don't  disturb  mother.  {Mov- 
ing away  to  the  fireplace  where,  at  the  mirror  over  the 
mantel-shelf,  she  fixes  the  roses  in  her  belt.]  She  has  to  go 
to  Clay  brook  Road  with  your  father  in  a  httle  while  and 
I  want  her  to  rest. 

Cyril. 
{Pausing.]    She   is  seedy,  isn't  she?    {Puckering  his 
brows.]   Going  to  Uncle  Jim's,  are  they  ? 

Helen. 
Yes. 


Cyril, 
That's  to  do  with  our  money,  I  expect 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  91 

Helen. 
[^Busy  at  the  mirror.']    With  your  money  ? 

Cyril. 
Father's  come  into  a  heap  of  money,  you  know. 

Joyce. 
\_ReproachfuUy.'\    Cyril ! 

Cyril. 
\Not  heeding   her.]    So   have   Uncle  Jim  and  Uncle 
Stephen  and  Aunt  Rose. 

Helen. 
I'm  delighted. 

Cyril. 
\To  Joyce,  who  is  signing  to  him  to  desist.]   Oh,  what's 
the  use  of  our  keeping  it  dark  any  longer  ? 

Joyce. 
We  promised  mother 

Cyril. 
Ages  ago.     But  you  heard  what  father  said  to  Uncle 
Stephen — it's    all   over  the    town.     Young   Pither  says 
there's  something  about  it  in  the  paper. 

Helen. 
The  paper? 

Cyril. 
The  Courier — that  fellow  Hammond's  paper.  Ham- 
mond was  beastly  sarcastic  about  it  last  week,  Pither 
says.  iGoing  to  the  door.]  I  don't  read  the  Courier  my- 
self.  [At  the  door  he  beckons  to  Joyce.  She  Joins  him 
and  his  voice  drops  to  a  whisper.]    Besides — \_glancing 


92  TEE  THUNDERBOLT 

significantly  at  Helen,  whose  back  is  turned  to  them\  it'll 
make  it  easier  for  us.  \_Nudging  her.'\  Now's  your 
chance ;  do  it  now.  [Aloud.']  Give  me  five  minutes, 
you  two.  I  can't  be  seen  at  the  flower-show  in  these 
togs. 

[He  withdraws.     Having  assured  herself  thai  the 
door  is  closed,  Joyce  advances  to  Helen. 

Joyce. 
Helen 

Helen. 
Hallo! 

Joyce. 
\Gravely.'\    Have  you  a  minute  to  spare  ? 

Helen. 
[Coming  to  the  round  table.]   Yes,  dear. 

Joyce. 
Helen,  it's  quite   true  we've  come  into  a  great  deal 
of  money.     Uncle    Edward,  who   lived  at  Linchpool — 
oh,    you   knew  him,  didn't  you? — he  was   a  friend  of 
yours 

Helen. 
[Nodding^    He  was  a  friend  of  mine. 

Joyce. 
Uncle    Edward   has  left  his  fortune  to  the  family-— 
[breaking  off]  you've  been  told  already  ! 

Helen. 
Well — yes. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  93 

Joyce. 
We  haven't  received  our  share  yet ;  but  we  shaii,  as 
soon  as  it's  all  divided  up.  [^Ttmidiy.']  Helen — [Helen 
seais  herself  upon  the  ottonuDi  in  an  attitude  of  attention~\ 
I  needn't  tell  you  this  will  very  much  improve  father  and 
mother's  position. 

Helen. 
Naturally. 

Joyce. 
And  mine  and  Cyril's,  too.     I'm  to  finish  abroad,  I 
believe. 

Helen. 
Lucky  brat. 

Joyce. 

But  it's  Cyril  I  want  to  talk  to  you  about — my  brother 
Cyril 

Helen. 
Cyril? 

Joyce. 
Cyril  is  to  be  entered  for  one  of  the  principal  public 
schools. 

Helen. 
Is  he? 

Joyce. 
One  of  those  schools  which  stamp  a  boy  a  gentleman 
for  the  rest  of  his  life. 

Helen. 
He  is  a  gentleman,  as  it  is.     I've  a  high  opinion  of 
Cyril. 


94  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Joyce. 
Oh,   I    am  glad   to  hear  you  say   so,   because — be- 
cause   

Helen. 

Because  what  ?  [Joyce  turns  away  in  silence  to  the  set- 
tee by  the  piano. '\    What  are  you  driving  at,  Joicey  ? 

Joyce. 

[Lounging  on  the  settee  uneasily  and  inelegantly ."^  Of 
course,  Cyril's  only  fourteen  at  present;  there's  no  de- 
nying that. 

Helen. 
I  suppose  there  isn't. 

Joyce. 

But  in  three  years*  time  he'll  be  seventeen,  and  in 
another  three  he'll  be  twenty. 

Helen. 
[Puzzled,']   Well? 

Joyce. 
And  at  twenty  you're  a  man,  aren't  you? 

Helen. 
A  young  man. 

Joyce. 
[Seating  herself,  her  elbows  on  her  knees,  examining  hef 
fingers. '\   And  even  then  he'd  be  content  to  wait. 

Helen. 
To  wait?    What  for? 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  95 

Joyce. 
[/«  a  low  voiceA   Cyril  wishes  to  marry  you  some  day, 
Helen. 

Helen. 
[After  a  pause,  gently.']    Does  he  ? 

Joyce. 
He  consulted  me  about  it  soon  after  you  came  to  us, 
and  I  advised  him  to  be  quite  sure  of  himself  before  he 
spoke  to  you.     And  he  is,  quite  sure  of  himself. 

Helen. 
And  he's  asked  you  to  speak/^?^  him  ? 

Joyce. 
He  prefers  my  doing  it.    {^Looking,  under  her  lashes,  at 
Helen.]   Are  you  furious  ? 

Helen. 
Not  a  scrap. 

Joyce. 
[Transferring  herself  from  the  settee  to  the  floor  at  Hel- 
en's y"^<?/ — embracing  her.']    Oh,  that's  lovely  of  you  !     I 
was  afraid  you  might  be. 

Helen. 
Furious  ? 

Joyce. 
[Gazing  at  her  admiringly.]    At  our  aiming  so  high.     I 
was  afraid  you  might  consider  that  marrying  Cyril  would 
be  marrying  beneath  you. 

Helen. 
[  Tenderly.]    The  girl  who  marries  Cyril  will  have  to  be 
a  far  grander  person  than  I  am,  Joyce,  to  be  marrying 
beneath  her. 


96  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Joyce. 
Oh,  Cyril's  all  right  in  himself,  and  so  is  father. 
Father's  very  retiring,  but  he's  as  clever  a  musician  as 
any  in  the  midlands.  And  mother  is  all  right  in  herself. 
\Backing  away  from  Helen.]  It's  not  mother's  fault; 
it's  her  misfortune 

Her  misfortune  — 


Helen. 


Joyce. 
\_Bitterly.']   Oh,  I'll  be   bound  they  mentioned   it  at 
«'  Ivanhoe  "  or  at  the  Crescent. 

Helen. 
Mentioned ? 

Joyce. 
{Between  her teeth.'l  The  shop— grandfather's  shop 

Helen. 
Ah,  yes. 

Joyce. 
{Clenching  her  hands. '\    Ah  !    [Squatting  upon  her  heels, 
her  shoulders  hunched.']    Grandfather  was  a  grocer,  Helen 
— a  grocer.     Oh,  mother  has  suffered  terribly  through  it 
— agonies. 

Helen. 
Poor  mother ! 

Joyce. 
We've  all  suffered.     Sometimes  it's  been  as  much  as 
Cyril  and  I  could  do  to  keep  our  heads  up  ;  [proudly, 
with  flashing  eyes]   but   we've   done   it.     The    Single- 
hampton  people  are  beasts. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  97 

Helen. 
Joyce  ! 

Joyce. 
If  it's  the  last  word  I  ever  utter — beasts.    [Swailowing 
a  iearT^   And  only  half  of  it  was  grocery — only  half. 

Helen. 
Only  half ? 

Joyce. 
It  was  a  double  shop.     There  were  two  windows  ;  the 
other  half  was  bottles  of  wine.     They  forget  that;  they 
forget  that ! 

Helen. 
A  shame. 

Joyce. 

\Einbraci7ig  Helen  again.'\    What  shall  I  say  to  him, 
then  ? 

Helen. 
Say  to  him  ? 

Joyce. 
Cyril — what  answer  shall  I  give  him? 

Helen. 
Oh,  tell  Cyril  that  I  am  highly  complimented  by  his 

offer 

Joyce. 
\Eagerly.'\    Complimented — yes ? 

Helen. 
And  that,  if  he's  of  the  same  mind  when  he's  a  man, 
and  I  am  still  single,  he  may  propose  to  me  again. 


96  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Joyce. 
[In  a/arm.2   If  you're — still  single ? 

Helen. 

Yes — \_shaking  her  head~\  and  if  he's  of  the  same  mind. 
\There  is  a  sharp,  prolonged  rapping  on  the  door. 
Joyce  and  Helen  rise. 

Joyce. 
\_Going  to  the  door.']    It's  that  frightful  tease. 

\She  opens  the  door  and  Trist  e?iters,  carrying  his 
hat,  gloves,  and  walking-stick. 

Trist. 
Ladies,  I   have  reason  to  believe  that  several  choice 
specimens  of  the  Dianthus  Caryophyllus  refuse  to  raise 
their   heads   until  you  grace  the  flower-show  with  your 
presence. 

[Joyce  slaps  his  ha7id  playfully  and  disappears. 
Helen  takes  her  hat  from  the  round  table  and, 
standing  before  the  fnirror  at  the  7nanteipiece, 
pins  it  on  her  head.     Trist  watches  her. 

Helen. 
\_After  a  silence,  her  back  to  Trist.]    The  glass  reflects 
more  than  one  face,  Mr.  Trist. 

Trist. 
\_Moving.'\    I  beg  your  pardon. 

Helen. 
You  were  thinking ? 

Trist. 
Philosophizing — observing  your  way  of  putting  on  your 
hat. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  99 

Helen. 
I  put  it  on  carelessly  ? 

Trist. 

Quickly.     A  convincing  sign  of  youth.     After  you  are 
five-and-twenty  the  process  will  take  at  least  ten  minutes. 

Helen. 

And  at  thirty  ? 

Trist. 
Half  an  hour.     Add  another  half-hour  for  each  suc- 
ceeding decade 

Helen. 
[^Turning  to  Jmn^   I'm  afraid  you're  a  knowing,  worldly 
parson. 

Trist. 
[Laughing.']    No,  no  ;  a  tolerant,  human  parson. 

Helen. 
We  shall  see.    \_Pickmg  up  her  gloves."]   If  ever  you  get 
a  hving  in  London,  Mr.  Trist,  I  shall  make  a  point  of 
sitting  under  you. 

Trist. 
I  bind  you  to  that. 

Helen. 
[Pulling  on  a  glove ^   By-the-bye,  I  set  out  to  seek  my 
London  living  to-morrow. 

Trist. 
[  With  a  change  of  manner,]   To-morrow  ? 

Helen. 
To-morrow. 


100  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Trist. 
[Blankly.']   I — ^I'm  sorry. 

Helen. 
Very  polite  of  you.     I'm  glad, 

Trist. 
Glad? 

Helen. 
It  sounds  rather  unkind,  doesn't  it  ?  Oh,  I'm  extremely 
fond  of  everybody  in  this  house — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tad  and 
the  children,  I  mean.  But  I'm  sure  it  isn't  good,  mor- 
ally, for  me  to  be  here,  even  if  there  were  no  other  rea- 
sons for  my  departure. 

Trist. 
Morally  ? 

Helen. 
Yes  ;  if  I  remained  here,  all  that's  bad  in  my  nature 
would  come  out  on  top.     Do  you  know  that  I've  the 
makings  in  me  of  a  most  accompUshed  har  and  hypo- 
crite ? 

Trist. 
I  shouldn't  have  suspected  it. 

Helen. 
I  have.    \_Coming  nearer  to  him.]   What  do  you  think 
takes  place  this  afternoon  ? 

Trist. 
What? 

Helen. 
\Wttk  gradually  increasing  excitement.']   There's  to  be 
a  meeting  of  the  Mortimore  family  at  James  Mortimore's 


THE   THUNDERBOLT  101 

house  at  four  o'clock.  He  and  his  brother  Stephen  have 
just  informed  me,  with  the  delicacy  which  is  character- 
istic of  them,  that  they  are  going  to  arrange  with  the  law- 
yers to  administer  my  father's  estate  without  any  more 
delay.  And  I  was  double-faced  enough  to  receive  the 
news  smilingly  and  agreeably,  and  all  the  time  I  could 
have  struck  them — I  could  have  seen  them  drop  dead  in 
this  room  without  a  pang  of  regret 

Trist. 
No,  no 

Helen. 
I  could.     \_Walking  away  and  pacing  the  room  on  the 
left.']    Oh,  it  isn't  father's  money  I  covet.     I  said  so  to 
the  family  in  Linchpool  and  I  say  it  again.     But  I  de- 
ceived myself. 

Trist. 

Deceived  yourself? 

Helen. 
Deceived  myself.  I  can't  bear \.hz.X.  father  should  have 
forgotten  me.  I  can't  bear  it;  I  can't  resign  myself  to 
it ;  I  shall  never  resign  myself  to  it.  I  thought  I  should 
be  able  to,  but  I  was  mistaken.  I  told  Mr.  Thaddeus 
that  I've  been  suffering  no  suspense  this  last  month. 
It's  a  falsehood;  I've  been  suffering  intense  sus- 
pense. I've  been  watching  the  posts,  for  letters 
from  Elkin ;  I've  been  praying,  daily,  hourly,  that 
something — anything — might  be  found  to  prove  that 
father  had  remembered  me.  And  I  loathe  these  people, 
who  step  over  me  and  stand  between  me  and  the  being  I 
loved  best  on  earth  ;  I  loathe  them.  I  detest  the  whole 
posse  of  them,  except  the  Thaddeuses  ;  and  I  wish  this 
money  may  bring  them,  and  those  belonging  to  them, 
every  ill  that's  conceivable.  \_Co7tf ranting  Tylist,  her  bosom 
heaving.']    Don't  you  lecture  me. 


102  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Trist. 
\Good-humoredly.'\    I  haven't  the  faintest  intention  of 

doing  so. 

Helen. 
Ha !    l^At  the  piano,  mimicking  James.]    Here's  Gor- 
don Street 


Trist. 


Eh? 


Helen. 
You  come  along  here,  to  Albert  Terrace — taking  in 
Clark's  piano  factory 

Trist. 
Who  does  ? 

Helen. 
[Fiercely. '\    Here— here's  the  pub  at  the  corner! 

Trist. 
[Bewildered.']    I — I  don't 

Helen. 
[Speaking  to  him  across  the  piano.']   James  Mortimore 
is  buying  land  and  building  a  new  street  in  the  town. 

Trist. 
Really  ? 

Helen. 
And  Stephen  is  putting  twelve  thousand  pounds  into 
his  old-fashioned  paper,  to  freshen  it  up  ;  and  the  Pont- 
ings  are  moving  into  a  big  house  in  London — near  Burke- 
ley  Square,  as  James  calls  it  ;  and  they  must  needs  dis- 
cuss their  affairs  in  my  hearing,  brutes  that  they  are  ! 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  103 

[C)ming  to  the  chair  on  the  left  of  the  table  at  the  end  of 
the  piano. ~\  Oh,  thank  God,  I'm  leaving  the  town  to-mor- 
row !  It  was  only  a  sort  of  curiosity  that  brought  me 
here.  \Siititig  and  producing  her  hand  kerchief. '\  Thank 
God,  I'm  leaving  to-morrow  ! 

\_He  walks  to  the  window  on  the  right  to  allow  her 
to  recover  herself,  and  then  returns  to  her. 

Trist. 
My  dear  child,  may  I  speak  quite  plainly  to  you? 

Helen. 
\Wiping  her  eyes.'\    If  you  don't  lecture  me. 

Trist. 
I  won't  lecture  you.     I  merely  venture  to  suggest  that 
you  are  a  trifle  illogical. 

Helen. 
I  dare  say. 

Trist. 
After  all,  recollect,  our  friends  James  and  Stephen  are 
not  to  be  blamed  for  the  position  they  find  themselves  in. 

Helen. 
Their  manners  are  insufferable. 

Trist. 
Hardly  insufferable.     Nothing  is  insufferable. 

Helen. 
There  you  go ! 

Trist. 
Their  faults  of  manner  and  breeding  are  precisely  the 
faults  a  reasonable,  dispassionate  person  would  have  no 


104  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

difficulty  in  excusing.     And  I  shall  be  mucn  astonished, 
when  the  bitterness  of  your  mortification  has  worn  off 

Helen. 
You  are  lecturing ! 

Trist. 
I'm  not ;  I  give  you  my  word  I'm  not. 

Helen. 
It  sounds  uncommonly  like  it.     What  did  I  tell  you 
the  other  day — that  you  were  different  from  the  clergy- 
men I'd  met  hitherto,  because  you  were ? 

Trist. 
Jolly. 

Helen. 
\_lVith  a  shrugJ]   Jolly  !    \_lVearily.'\    Oh,  please  go  and 
hurry  the  children  up,  and  let's  be  off  to  the  flowers. 

Trist. 
\_Not  stirring.']   My  dear  Miss  Thornhill 

Helen. 
\Impatiently7\    I'll  fetch  them 

Trist. 
Don't.  {^Deliberately 7[  My  dear  Miss  Thornhill,  to 
show  you  how  little  I  regard  myself  as  worthy  of  the 
privilege  of  lecturing  you  ;  \smiling\  to  show  you  how 
the  seeds  of  selfishness  may  germinate  and  flourish  even 
in  the  breast  of  a  cleric — may  I  make  a  confession  to 
you? 

Helen. 
Confession ? 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  105 

Trist. 
I — I  want  to  confess  to  you  that  the  circumstance  of 
your  having    been    left  as  you   are — cast  adrift   on   the 
world,  unprotected,  without  means  apart  from  your  own 
talent  and  exertions — is  one  that  fills  me  with — hope. 

Helen. 
Hope  ? 

Trist. 
Fills  me  with  hope,  though  it  may  scarcely  justify  my 
presumption.    {Sittitig  opposite  to  her.']    You  were  assum- 
ing a  minute  ago,  in  joke  perhaps,  the  possibility  of  my 
obtaining  a  living  some  day. 

Helen. 
\_Graciously,  but  with  growing  uneasiness.']     Not  alto- 
gether in  joke. 

Trist. 
Anyhow,  there  is  a  decided  possibility  of  a  living  com- 
ing my  way — and  practically  in  London,  as  it  chances. 

Helen. 
I — I'm  pleased. 

Trist. 
Yes,  in   the   natural  order  of  events  a  living  will  be 
vacant  within  the  next  few  years  which  is  in  the  gift  of 
the  father  of  an  old  college  chum  of  mine.     It's  a  subur- 
ban parish — close  to  Twickenham — and  I'm  promised  it. 

Helen. 
That  would  be — nice  for  you, 

Trist. 
\Gazing  at  her  fixedly^  Jolly* 


106  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Helen. 
[Her  eyes  drooping.']   Very — ^jolly. 

Trist. 
I  should  still  be  a  poor  man — that  I  shall  always  be  ; 
but  poverty  is  relative.     It  would   be  riches  compared 
with  my  curacy  here.     \^Afier  a  pause,  ]    The  vicarage 
has  a  garden  with  some  grand  old  trees. 

Helen. 
Many  of  the  old  gardens — in  the  suburbs — are  charm- 
ing. 

Trist. 
I — I   could  let  the  vicarage   during   the  summer,  to 
increase  my  income. 

Helen. 
May  a  vicar — let — his  vicarage  ? 

Trist. 
It's  done.     Some  Bishops  object  to  it ;  \innocenily\  but 

you  can  dodge  the  old  boy. 

Helen. 
Dodge  the — old  boy  ! 

Trist. 
There   are   all  sorts  of  legal  fictions  to  help  you.     I 
know  of  a  Bishop's  son-in-law  who  let  his  vicarage  for  a 
term  under  the  pretence  of  letting  only  the  furniture. 

Helen. 
Wicked. 

Trist. 
\Leantng  forward."]   But  I  shouldn't  dream  of  letting 
my  vicarage  if  my  income — proved  sufficient 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  107 

Helen. 
It  would  be  wealth — you  say — in  comparison 

Trist. 
Yes,  but  I — I  might — marry. 

Helen. 
[^Hastily.']    Oh — oh,  of  course. 

[The  door  opens  and  JOYCE  and  Cyril  enter^ 
dressed  for  going  out.  Cyril  is  in  his  best  suit, 
is  gloved,  and  swings  a  cane  which  is  too  long 
for  him.  At  the  same  moment  Thaddeus  lets 
himself  into  the  garden  at  the  gate.  He  is  ac- 
companied by  Denyer,  a7i  ordinary-looking 
person  with  whiskers  and  moustache.  Helen 
and  Trist  rise,  and  she  goes  to  the  mirror  in 
some  confusion  and  gives  a  last  touch  to  her  hat. 

Joyce. 
Have  we  kept  you  waiting  ? 

Cyril. 
Sorry.     Couldn't  get  my  tie  to  go  right. 

Thaddeus. 

[In  the  garden."]    Come  in,  Denyer.    [At  the  window,  to 
those  in  the  room.]    What,  haven't  you  folks  gone  yet? 

Trist. 
[With  the  children,  following  Helen  into  the  garden. \ 
Just  off. 

Thaddeus. 
[To  Helen,  as  she  passes  him.]    Hope  you'll  enjoy  your- 
self. 

Trist. 
\To  Denver.]  Ah,  Mr.  Denyer,  how  are  you? 


108  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Denver. 
How  are  you,  Mr.  Trist  ? 

Joyce  and  Cyril. 
[7^  Thaddeus.]   Good-bye,  father. 

Thaddeus. 
[Kissing  them.']    Good-bye,  my  dears. 

[Trist  opens  the  gate  ^«^  Helen  and  the  children 
pass  out  into  the  lane.  Trist  follows  them, 
closing  the  gate.  Thaddeus  and  Denver  en- 
ter the  room.  Denver  is  carrying  a  newS' 
paper. 

Cyril. 
\Out  of  sight,  shrilly.]    Which  way? 

Trist. 
Through  Parker  Street. 

Joyce. 
Who  walks  with  who  ? 

Helen. 
I  walk  with  Cyril. 

[  The  sound  of  the  chatter  dies  in  the  distance, 

Denver. 
\To  Thaddeus.]   Then  I  can  put  up  the  bill  at  once, 
Mr.  Mortimore  ? 

Thaddeus. 
{Laying  his  hat  upon  the  table  on  the  left.]    Do,  Den- 
yer.     To-morrow — to-day 

Denver. 
I'll  send  a  man  round  in  the  morning.    [Producing  a 
note-book  and  writing  in  it.]   Let's  see — your  lease   is 
seven,  fourteen,  twenty-one? 


TEE  THUNDERBOLT  109 

Thaddeus. 
That's  it. 

Denver. 
How  much  of  the  first  seven  is  there  to  run — I  ought 
to  remember ? 

Thaddeus. 
Two  years  and  a  half  from  Michaelmas. 

Denver. 
Rent? 

Thaddeus. 
Forty. 

[The  door  opens  a  little  way  and  VwiiAAS  peeps  in. 
Her  features  are  drawfi,  her  lips  white  and  set, 

Denver. 
Fixtures  at  a  valuation,  I  s'pose  ? 

Thaddeus. 
Ha,  ha  !     The  costly  fixtures  at  a  valuation. 

Denver. 
You  may  as  well  sell  'em,  if  they  only  fetch  tuppence. 
\Seei7ig  Phvllis,  who  has  entered  softly. '\    Good-afternoon , 
ma'am. 

Phyllis. 
\In  a  low  voice.']    Good-afternoon. 

Thaddeus. 
{^Turning  to  her.]    Phyl,  dear!     I  met  Mr.  Denyer  in 
the    lane.    [Gleefully.']   The    bill  goes   up  to-morrow — 


110  THE   THUNDERBOLT 

"house  to  let" — to-morrow  morning — [to  Denver]  first 

thing 

[Phyllis     moves     to     the    bay-window    without 
speaking. 

Denver. 
First  thing.    [Putting   his  pocketbook  away.l    Excuse 
me — you're  on  the  lookout  for  a  new  residence  ? 

Thaddeus. 
Oh^r — one  must  live  somewhere,  Denyer. 

Denver. 
And  a  much  superior  house  to  this,  Mr.  Mortimore,  I 
lay  a  guinea. 

Thaddeus. 
[Walking  about  with  his  hands  in  his  pockets."]   The 
children   are   springing   up — getting   to   be   tremendous 
people. 

Denver. 
[Genially.']   Oh,  come,  sir  !      We  know. 

Thaddeus. 
[Pausing  in  his  walk.]   Eh  ? 

Denver. 
Everybody  in  the  town  knows  of  your  luck,  and  the 
family's.    [Picking  up  his  hat  and  newspaper,  which  he 
has  laid  upon  the  ottoman.]    Here's  another  allusion  to  it 
in  this  week's  Courier. 

Thaddeus. 
The  Courier? 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  111 

Denver. 
{^Handing  him  the  paper.']  Just  out.     You  keep  it ;  I've 
got  another  at  'ome.    [Thaddeus  is  searching  the  paper. 1 
Middle  page — "  Town  Topics." 

Thaddeus. 
Thanks. 

Denver. 

Mr.  Hammond — he  will  poke  his  fun.    \_Going  to  the 
window.]    P'r'aps  you'll  give  us  a  call,  sir? 

Thaddeus. 
^Following  him  absently,  reading.]    Yes,  I'll  call  in. 

Denver. 
\_To   Phvllis,  who   is  sitti7ig  in  the  chair  by  the  bay- 
window.]    Good-day,  ma'am.    [/«  the  garden,  to  Thad- 
deus, persuasively.]    Now,  you  won't  forget  Gibson  and 
Denyer,  Mr.  Mortimore  ? 

Thaddeus. 
\_At  the  window.]    I  won't;  I  won't. 

Denver. 
The  old  firm.    [^Opening  the  gate.]    What  we  haven't 
got   on   our   books  isn't  worth  considering,  you  take  it 
from  me. 

\He    disappears,    closing    the   gate.     Thaddeus 
comes  back  into  the  roorn. 

Thaddeus. 
Upon  my  soul,  this  is  too  bad  of  Hammond.     This'll 
annoy   Jim    and    Stephen    frightfully — drive    'em    mad. 
\F tinging  the  paper  on  to  the  settee  by  the  piano.]    Oh, 

well !     \_Putting  his  tiecktie  /«  order  at  the  7nirror.\ 

By  Jove,  we've  done  it  at  last,  old  lady !     "  House  to 


112  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

let,"  hey?  I  believe  I'm  keener  about  it  than  you  are, 
now  it's  come  to  it.  What  a  sensation  it'll  cause  at 
"  Ivanhoe,"  and  at  the  Crescent!  I  tell  you  what,  you 
and  I  must  have  a  solemn  talk  to-night — a  parhament — 
when  the  children  have  gone  to  bed  ;  a  regular,  serious 
talk,  \_7urning.']  You  know,  I'm  still  for  Cheltenham. 
Cheltenham  seems  to  me  to  offer  so  many  advantages. 
[Phyllis  rises  slowly.']  There's  the  town  itself— bright 
and   healthy  ;    then    the    College,  for   Cyril.     As  for  its 

musical   tastes \_Breaki71g  off  and  looking  at  the 

clock.]  I  say,  do  get  your  things  on,  Phyl.  \Comparin^ 
his  watch  with  the  clock  and  then  timing  and  winding  it7\ 
We  shall  catch  it  if  we're  not  punctual. 

Phyllis. 
I — I'm  not  going.  Tad. 

Thaddeus. 
Not  going,  dear? 

Phyllis. 

No — I \_He   advances   to  the  right  of  the  piano 

solicitously r]    I  can't  go. 

Thaddeus. 
Aren't  you  up  to  it  ? 

\_She  tnoves  to  the  open  window  and  looks  into  the 

garden. 

Phyllis. 
They  won't — be  back — for  a  long  while? 

Thaddeus. 
The  children,  and  Trist  and  Helen  ?     Not  for  an  hour 
or  two. 

Phyllis. 
\Turningi^   Tad — that  girl — that  girl 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  113 

Thaddeus. 
Helen? 

Phyllis. 
[^Coming  forward  a  little.']    We're  robbing  her  ;  we're 
robbing  her.    [Shaking.']    We're  all  robbing  her. 

Thaddeus. 
[At  her  side.]   You've  got  another  bad  attack  of  nerves 
this  afternoon — an  extra  bad  one 

Phyllis. 
[Suddenly,  grasping  his  coat.]    Tad — I— I've  broken 
down 

Thaddeus. 
Broken  down  ? 

Phyllis. 
I've  broken  down  under  it.     I— I  can't  endure  it. 

Thaddeus. 
[Soothingly^   What— what ? 

Phyllis. 
Your  brother — Edward— your  brother— Edward  —^ 

Thaddeus. 
Yes? 

Phyllis. 
Everything— everything— belongs  to  her—Helen 

Thaddeus. 
My  dear,  the  family  were  prepared  to  offer  Helen  — 


114  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Phyllis. 
No,  no !     He  left  every  penny  to  her — left  it  to  her. 

[Staring  into  his  face.']   There  was  a  will. 


A  will? 
I  saw  it. 
You  saw  it  ? 


Thaddeus. 

Phyllis. 

Thaddeus. 


Phyllis. 
I  read  it — I  had  it  in  my  hand • 

Thaddeus. 
[Incredulously,]    You  did ! 

Phyllis. 
Yes,  I — I  did  away  with  it 

Thaddeus. 
Did  away  with  it  ? 

Phyllis. 
Destroyed  it. 

Thaddeus. 

A  will — Ned's   will !     [She   turns  from  him  and 

sinks  helplessly  on  to  the  settee  by  the  fireplace.  He  stands 
looking  down  upon  her  in  a  half  frightened,  half  puzzled 
way  ;  then  his  face  clears  and  he  looks  at  the  clock  again. 
Calmly.]   Phyl,  I  wish  you'd  let  me  have  Chapman  in. 

Phyllis. 
[In  a  faint  voice.]   No — no 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  115 

Thaddeus. 
My  dear,  we  can  afford  a  doctor  now,  if  we  require 
one.     That  bromide  stuff  he  prescribed  for  you  once — 
that  did  you  no  end  of  good.     \^Going  towards  the  door,'\ 
I'll  send  Kate. 

Phyllis. 
[^Raising  herself.']   Tad 

Thaddeus. 
[Reassuringly.']   I'll  stay  with  you  till  he  comes. 

Phyllis. 
Tad — {getting    to   her  feet]    you — you   think  I'm   not 
right  in  my  head.     Tad,  I — I   know  what  I'm  saying. 
I'm  telUng  the  truth.     I'm  telhng  you  the  truth. 

Thaddeus, 
A  will ? 

Phyllis. 
\At  the  round  table.]    Yes— yes 

Thaddeus. 
No,  no,  you're  talking  nonsense.    {He goes  to  the  door 
and  there  pauses,  his  hand  on  the  door-knob.]   When— « 
when ? 


Phyllis. 


When ? 


Thaddeus. 
When  did  you  see  it  ? 

Phyllis. 
On  the — on  the  Wednesday  night. 


116  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Thaddeus. 
The  Wednesday  night  ? 

Phyllis. 
You     remember — the     night     there     was    no    night- 
nurse  ? 

Thaddeus. 
I  remember,  of  course. 

Phyllis. 
Ann  and  Louisa  had  gone  to  the  hotel  to  he  down,  and 
— and  I  was  alone  with  him. 

Thaddeus. 
I  remember  it  all  perfectly. 

Phyllis. 
[Moving  towards  the  ottoman,  supporting  hene If  by  the 
table. '\    I    was   with  him  from  eight  o'clock  till    nearly 
eleven. 

Thaddeus. 
Till  the  others  came  back.     That  was  the  night  he — the 
night  he  sank. 

Phyllis. 
Yes  ;  it  was  just  before  then  that  he — that  he  — — • 

Thaddeus. 
[Leaving  the  door.']   Just  before  then ? 

Phyllis. 
It  was  just  before  the  change  set  in  that  he — that  he 
sent  me  down-stairs. 


THE   THUNDERBOLT  117 

Thaddeus. 
Down-stairs  ? 

Phyllis. 
To  the  library. 

Thaddeus. 
The  library  ? 

Phyllis. 
With  the  keys. 

Thaddeus. 
Keys? 

Phyllis. 
His  bunch  of  keys. 

Thaddeus. 
Sent  you  down-stairs— to  the  library — with  his  keys  ? 

Phyllis. 
Yes. 

Thaddeus. 
What  for? 

Phyllis. 
To  fetch  something. 

Thaddeus. 
Fetch  something  ? 

Phyllis. 
From  the  safe. 


118  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Thaddeus. 
The  safe? 

Phyllis. 
The  safe  in  the  library — [sitting  on  the  ottoman^  the  safe 
in  the  bookcase  in  the  library. 

Thaddeus. 
\Co7ning  to  herJX     What — what  did  he  send  you  to 

fetch,  dear? 

Phyllis. 
Some — some  jewelry. 

Thaddeus. 
Jewelry  ? 

Phyllis. 
Some  pieces  of  jewelry.     He  had  some  pieces  of  jew- 
elry in  his  safe  in  the  library,  that  he'd  picked  up,  he  said, 
at  odd  times,  and  he  wanted  to  make  me  a  present  of  one 
of  them  — 

Thaddeus. 
Make  you  a  present ? 

Phyllis. 
As  a  keepsake.  [Her  elbows  on  her  knees,  digging  her 
fingers  into  her  hair.']  It  was  about  half-past  nine.  I  was 
sitting  beside  his  bed,  thinking  he  was  asleep,  and  I 
found  him  looking  at  me.  He  recollected  seeing  me 
when  I  was  a  child,  he  said,  skating  on  the  ponds  at 
Claybrook  ;  and  he  said  he  was  sure  I — I  was  a  good 
wife  to  you — and  a  good  mother  to  my  children.  And 
then  he  spoke  of  the  jewelry — and  opened  the  drawer  of 
the  table  by  the  bed — and  took  out  his  keys — and  ex- 
plained to  me  how  to  open  the  safe. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  119 

Thaddeus. 
\_//ts   manner  gradually  changing  as  he  listens  to  her 
recitaL~\    You — you  went  down ? 

Phyllis. 
Yes. 

Thaddeus. 

And — and ? 

Phyllis. 
And  unlocked  the  safe.     And  in  the  lower  drawer  I^ 
I  came  across  it. 

Thaddeus. 
Came  across ? 

Phyllis. 
He   told   me    I    should   find  four  small  boxes — and  I 
could  find  only  three — and  that  made  me  look  into  the 
drawer — and — and   under   a   lot   of  other   papers — I — I 
saw  it. 

Thadde!us. 
/// 

Phyllis. 
A  big  envelope,  with  "My  Will"  written  upon  it. 

[^There  is  a  short  silence ;  then  he  seats  himself 
upon  the  settee  by  the  piano. 

Thaddeus. 
\_In  a  whisper. '\   Well  ? 

Phyllis. 
\Raising  her  head.']    I  put  it  back  into  the  drawer,  and 
locked   the    safe,  and  went    up-stairs  with    the  jewelry. 
Outside   the   bedroom   door   I  found  Heath.     I'd  given 


120  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

him  permission  to  run  out  for  an  hour,  to  get  some  air, 
with  Pearce  and  Sadler,  the  housemaids.  He  asked  me 
if  they  could  do  anything  for  me  before  they  started.  I 
told  him  no,  and  that  Mr.  Mortimore  seemed  brighter 
and  stronger.  I  heard  him  going  down  the  servant's 
staircase  ;  and  then  I  went  into  the  room — up  to  the  bed 
— and — and  he  was  altered. 

Thaddeus. 
[Moistening  his  lips  with  his  tongue^   Ned ? 

Phyllis. 
His  cheeks  were  more  shrunken,  and  his  jaw  had 
dropped  slightly,  and  his  hps  were  quite  blue  ;  and  his 
breathing  was  short  and  quick.  I  measured  the  medi- 
cine which  he  was  to  have  if  there  was  any  sign  of  col- 
lapse, and  lifted  him  up  and  gave  it  to  him.  Then  I 
rang  the  bell,  and  by  and  by  the  woman  from  the 
kitchen  answered  it.  He  was  easier  then — dozing,  but 
I  told  her  to  put  on  her  hat  and  jacket  and  go  for 
Dr.  Oswald.  And  then  I  stood  watching  him,  and — and 
the  idea — came  to  me. 

Thaddeus. 
The — the  idea? 

Phyllis. 
My  head  suddenly  became  very  clear.     Every  word 
of  the  argument  in  the  train  came  back  to  me 

Thaddeus. 
Argument  ? 

Phyllis. 
Between  James  and  the  others — in  the  train,  going  to 
Linchpool,  on  the  Tuesday 

Thaddeus. 
Oh— oh,  yes. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  121 


Phyllis. 
If  Edward  died,  how  much  would  he  die  worth?  Who 
would  come  in  for  all  his  money  ?  Would  he  remember 
the  family,  to  the  extent  of  a  mourning  ring  or  so,  in  his 
will?  If  he  should  die  leaving  no  will !  Of  course  Ned 
would  leave  a  will,  but — where  did  a  man's  money  go  to 
when  he  didn  t  leave  a  will  ? 

Thaddeus. 
\Under  his  breath.'}    To  his — next-of-kin ! 

Phyllis. 
[^Rising  painfully.']  After  a  time,  I — I  went  down- 
stairs again.  At  first  I  persuaded  myself  that  I  only 
wanted  to  replace  the  jewelry — that  I  didn't  want  to 
have  to  explain  about  the  jewelry  to  Ann  and  Lou  ; 
\jnoving  about  the  room  on  the  left~\  but  when  I  got  down- 
stairs I  knew  what  I  was  going  to  do.  And  I  did  it  as  if 
it  was  the  most  ordinary  thing  in  the  world.  I  put  back 
the  little  boxes — and  took  out  the  big  envelope — and 
locked  up  the  safe  again,  and — read  the  will.  \_Pausing 
at  the  pia7io.~\  Everything — everything — to  some  person 
— some  woman  living  in  Paris.  \_Leaning  upon  the  piano^ 
a  cle7ichcd  hand  against  her  brow. ~\    "Everything  I  die 

possessed   of  to  Helen  Thornhill,  now  or  late  of " 

such-and-such  an  address,  "spinster,  absolutely"  ;  and 
she  was  to  be  his  executrix — "  sole  executrix."  That 
was  all,  except  that  he  begged  her  to  reward  his  old 
servants — his  old  servants  at  his  house  and  at  the  brewery. 
Just  a  few  Unes — on  one  side  of  a  sheet  of  paper 

Thaddeus. 
Written — in  his  own — hand  ? 

Phyllis. 
I  think  so. 


122  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Thaddeus. 
You — you've  seen  his  writing — since 

Phyllis. 
[Leavmg  the  piano. "^   Yes — I'm  sure — in  his  own  hand. 

Thaddeus. 
[Heaviiy.'\   That  clears  it  up,  then. 

Phyllis. 
Yes. 

Thaddeus. 
He'd  made  his  will — himself — himself— 

Phyllis. 
{^ffer  strength  failing  a  little?^  Three  years  ago.     I — 
noticed  the  date — {dropping  into  the  chair  on  the  extreme 

ieff]  it  was  three  years  ago 

\Again  there  is  a  silence  ;  then  he  rises  and  walks 
about  aimlessly. 

Thaddeus. 
{Trying  to  collect  his  thoughts.']  Yes — yes  ;  this  clears 
it  up.  This  clears  it  all  up.  There  was  a  will.  There 
was  a  will.  He  didnt  forget  his  child  ;  he  didn't  forget 
her.  What  fools — what  fools  we  were  to  suppose  he 
could  have  forgotten  his  daughter ! 

Phyllis. 
{Writhing  in  her  chair.]    Oh,  I  didn't  know — I  didn't 
guess !     His  daughter!     {Moaning.]   Oh!  oh! 

Thaddeus. 
Don't ;  don't,  old  lady.     {She  continues  her  moaning^ 
Oh,  don't,  don't!     Let's  think;   let's  think,  now;  let's 
think.    {He  seats  himself  opposite  to  her.]    Now,  let's  think. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  123 

Helen — this'll  put  Helen  in  a  different  position  entirely  ; 
a  different  position  entirely — won't  it?  I  — I  wonder — I 
wonder  what's  the  proper  course  for  the  family  to  take. 
\_Stretching  out  a  trembling  hand  to  heri]  You'll  have  to 
write  down — to  write  down  carefully — very  carefully — 
[breaking  off,  with  a  change  of  tone']  Phyl 

Phyllis. 
Oh  !  oh  ! 

Thaddeus. 
Don't,   dear,   don't!     PhyUis,   perhaps   you — didn't — 
destroy    the    will  ;  not — actually — destroy    it  ?     [^Implor- 
ingly.']   You  didn't  destroy  it,  dear ! 

Phyllis. 
I  did— I  did 

Thaddeus. 
\Leaning  back  in  his  chair,  dazed.]    I — I'm  afraid — it 
— it's  rather — a  serious  matter — to — to  destroy 

Phyllis. 
\Starti7ig  up.]  I  did  destroy  it ;  I  did  destroy  it. 
\_Pacing  the  room  on  the  right.]  I  kept  it — I'd  have  burnt 
it  then  and  there  if  there' d  been  a  fire — but  I  kept  it — I 
grew  terrified  at  what  I'd  done — oh,  I  kept  it  till  you  left 
me  at  Roper's  on  the  Thursday  morning  ;  and  then  I — I 
went  on  to  the  Ford  Street  bridge — and  tore  it  into  pieces 
— and  threw  them  into  the  water.  \  IVrinrinp'  her  hands .] 
Oh!  oh!  L  ^    .^  J 

Thaddeus. 
[^His  chin  on  his  breast.]    Well — well — we've  got  to  go 

through  with  it.   We've  got — to  go — through [^Rising 

and  walkijig  about  unsteadily  on  the  left.]  Yes,  yes,  yes  ; 
what  a  difference  it'll  make  to  everybody — not  only  to 
Helen  !  What  a  difference  it'll  make  at  "  Ivanhoe,"  and 
at  the  Crescent — and  to  Rose ! 


124  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Phyllis. 
They'll  curse  me  !     They'll  curse  me  more  than  ever ! 

Thaddeus. 
And  to — to  us  / 

Phyllis. 
To  us — the  children ! 

Thaddeus. 
\_Shaking  a  finger  at  her  across  the  piano,  cunningly^ 
Ah — ah — ah,  but  when  the  affair's  really  settled,  we'll 
still  carry  out  our  intention.     We — we'll  still 

Phyllis. 
[Facing  him.']    Our  intention  ?     Our ? 

Thaddeus. 
Our  intention — of  leaving  the  town 

Phyllis. 
[WiMy.]    Leaving  the  town  !     Oh,  my  God»  we  shall 
have  to  leave  the  town  ! 

Thaddeus. 
IRecoiiing.']   Oh ! 

Phyllis. 
Leave  it  as  beggars  and  outcasts ! 

Thaddeus. 
[Quietly.]    Oh,  yes,  we  shdiW— have— to  leave  the  town 
—now 

[  The  door  opens  and  a  little  maid-servant  enters, 
Thaddeus  looks  at  her  with  dull  eyes. 

The  Servant. 
Please,  sir 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  125 

Thaddeus. 
Eh? 

The  Servant. 
Maud's  just  come  down  from  "  Ivanhoe,"     They're 
waiting  for  you. 

Thaddeus. 
W — waiting  ? 

The  Servant. 
That's  the  message,  sir.     Mr.  James  and  the  family's 
waiting  for  Mr.  Thaddeus. 

Thaddeus. 

Oh ,  I [  Taking  out  his  watch  and  Ji tigering  it.  ]  Yes, 

of  course — [to  the servant~\  I — I'm  coming  up.  [The  serv- 
ant withdraws.  Thaddeus  picks  up  his  hat  from  the  ta- 
ble on  the  left  and  turns  to  Phyllis.]  Good-bye,  dear. 
[  Taking  her  in  his  arms,  and  kissing  her,  simply 7\  I — I'll 
go  up. 

\He  puts  his  hat  on,  finds  his  way  to  the  door  with 
uncertain  steps,  and  disappears. 


END  OF  THE  SECOND  ACT 


THE  THIRD  ACT 

The  scene  is  the  dining-room  /z?  James  Mortimore's  house. 
In  the  wall  facing  the  spectator  there  is  an  arched  re- 
cess with  a  fireplace  at  the  back  of  ity  and  on  either 
side  of  the  fireplace y  within  the  recess,  there  is  a  chim- 
ney-seat. On  the  right  of  the  recess  a  door  ope?is  into 
the  room  from  a  hall  or  passage. 

Standing  out  in  the  middle  of  the  room  is  a  large,  oblong 
dining-table,  uncovered.  On  the  table  are  a  couple  of 
inkstands,  some  pens,  paper,  and  blotti/ig-paper.  Ten 
chairs  are  placed  at  regular  intervals  at  the  table — 
three  at  each  side  and  two  at  the  ends.  Against  the 
wall  on  the  right,  near  the  door,  stands  a  heavy  side- 
board. On  it  are  several  pieces  of  ugly-looking,  showy 
plate,  a  carafe  of  water  and  a  tumbler,  and,  upon  a 
tray,  a  decanter  of  red  wine  and  some  wine-glasses. 
Against  the  same  wall,  but  nearer  to  the  spectator, 
there  is  a  cabinet.  In  front  of  the  cabinet  there  is  a 
round  table,  covered  with  a  white  cloth,  on  which  tea- 
cups and  saucers  are  laid  for  ten  persons.  Also  on  the 
table  are  a  tea-caddy  and  teapot,  a  plated  kettle-stand, 
a  plum-cake,  and  other  accompaniments  of  afternoon 
tea.  On  each  side  of  the  tea-table  there  is  an  armchair 
belonging  to  the  same  set  of  chairs  that  surround  the 
dining-table. 

Against  the  left-hand  wall  is  another  heavy  piece  of  fur- 
niture.     Except  for   this,  and  the  sideboard   and  ths 
cabinet,  the  walls,  below  the  dado  rail,  are  bare. 
126 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  127 

The  architecture,  decorations,  and  furniture  are  pseudo^ 
artistic  and  vulgar.  The  whole  suggests  the  home  of  a 
common  person  of  moderate  means  who  has  built  himself 
a  **fne  house.'*'' 

James  and  Stephen  are  seated  at  the  further  side  of  the 
dining-table  with  a  newspaper  spread  out  before  them. 
Standing  by  them,  reading  the  paper  over  their  hus- 
bands* shoulders,  are  Ann  and  Louisa.  Rose  is  sitting, 
looking  bored,  at  the  right-hand  end  of  the  table,  and 
PoNTiNG,  smoking  a  cigar,  is  pacing  the  room  on  the 
left.  Louisa  and  Rose,  the  latter  dressed  in  rich  half- 
mourning,  are  wearing  their  hats. 

James. 
\Sco'wling  at  the pape7\~\    It's  infamous. 

Louisa. 
Abominable ! 

Ann. 
It  oughtn't  to  be  allowed,  James. 

Stephen. 
Ah,  now  James  is  stabbed  at  as  well  as  myself. 

James. 
The  man's  a  blackguard  ;  that's  what  he  is. 

Louisa. 
His  wife's  a  most  unpleasant  woman. 


Stephen 
„  iviping  hi 

have  been  the  chief  object  of  Mr.  Hammond's  malice. 


[Leaning  back  and  wiping  his  spectacles^    Hitherto  1 


128  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Louisa. 
You'll  soon  have  your  revenge  now,  Stephen.    \To  (he 
oihers.l    Stephen  will  soon  have  his  revenge  now. 

James. 
By  George,  I've  half  a  mind  to  ask  Vallance  to  give 
me  his  opinion  on  this  ! 

Stephen. 
We  might  consult  Vallance,  certainly. 

Louisa. 
And  tell  him  what  Mrs.  Hammond  was. 

Ann. 
When  she  was  plain  Nelly  Robson. 

Stephen. 
Sssh,  sssh  !     Do,  pray,  keep  the  wife  out  of  it. 

PONTING. 

\Looking  at  his  watch  as  he  walks  across  to  the  right."] 
I  say,  my  friends,  it's  four  o'clock,  you  know.  [The 
MoRTiMORES  stiffen  themselves  and  regard  him  coldly.] 
Where  are  these  lawyer  chaps  ? 

James. 
{Folding  the  newspaper^]   They're  not  in  my  pocket, 
Colonel. 

Stephen. 
No,  we're   not  in  the   habit  of  carrying  them  about 
with  us. 

Louisa. 
\Laughing  sillily.]   Oh,  Stephen ! 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  129 

Rose. 
We  mustn't  lose  the — what's  the  train  back,  Toby  ? 

PONTING. 

[Behind  her  chair,  annoyed.']    Five  fifty-seven. 

Rose. 
I  shall  be  dead  with  fatigue  ;  I've  two  parties  to-night. 

James. 
Parties  ? 

Rose. 
[7^   PONTING.]     Destinn  is   singing  at  the  Trench's, 
Toby. 

Stephen. 
\^Rising.']    H'm!     Indeed? 

Ann. 

\_In  an  undertone,  withdrawing  with  LouiSA  to  the  fire- 
place.]    Singing  ! 

James, 
{Rising.]    So  you're  going  to  parties,  are  you,  Rose? 
Pretty  sharp  work,  with  Ned  only  a  month  in  his  grave. 

PONTING. 

We're  not  conventional  people. 

Rose. 

\Rising  and  walking  away  to  the  left.]     No,  we  don't 
mourn  openly. 

PONTING. 

We  don't  carry  our  hearts  on  our  what-d'ye-call-it — 
sleeve. 


130  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Rose. 

And  Edward  wasn't  in  the  least  known  in  London 
society. 

James. 

[^IVa/h'ng  about  on  the  right ^    You  knew  him. 

PONTING. 

\Seating  himself  on  the  nearer  side  of  the  dining-table  in 
the  middle  chair.'\  In  London,  my  friends,  reg'lar 
mournin'  is  confined  to  the  suburbs  nowadays.  May  I 
have  an  ash-tray  ? 

Rose. 
[  Walking  about  on  the  left7\    And  we  go  to  Harrogate 

n  fhi*  twpnfv-ninth 


on  the  twenty-ninth. 


PONTING. 

Good  Lord,  yes  ;   I'm  kept  devilish  quiet  there. 

[Ann  takes  a  metal  ash-tray  from  the  mantelpiece 
and  gives  it  to  Stephen,  who  almost  flings  it 
on  to  the  table.  The  door  opens  and  a  maid- 
servant enters  followed  by  Elkin  and  Val- 
LANCE.  The  lawyers  carry  small  leather  bags. 
The  servant  retires. 

James. 
[Shaking  hands  heartily  with  Elkin  ««^Vallance.] 
Here  you  are  ! 

Elkin. 
A  minute  or  two  behind  time — my  fault. 

Stephen. 
How  d'ye  do,  Mr.  Elkin  ?   [Shaking  hands  with  Val- 
lance.]   Good-afternoon. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  131 

Elkin. 
[To  PONTING.]    How  d'ye  do  ? 

PONTING. 

[Shortly,  not  rising.']    H'ah  you? 

Vallance. 

[Shaking  hands  with  Ann  and\x>i3\SA  and  bowing  to 
Rose.]    How  do  you  do  ? 

Elkin. 
[To  Rose.]    Hope  you're  very  well,  Mrs.  Ponting. 

Rose. 
Thanks. 

Vallance. 
\^To  Ponting,  who  nods  in  return.']   Good-afternoon. 

Ponting. 
[Bringing  the  palm  of  his  hand  down  upon  the  table.] 
Now,  then  ! 

James. 
[To  Elkin  and  Vallance,  inviting  them  by  a  gesture 
to  be  seated.]    Excuse  the  dining-room,  gentlemen  ;  looks 
more  like  business  than  the  drawing-room. 

Stephen. 
[On  the  left.]  Where's  Tad .? 

Ann. 
[Seating  herself  at  the  further  side  of  the  dining-table  in 
the  middle  chair.]   Yes,  where's  Tad  ? 

Louts  A. 
[Sitting  beside  her.]   Where  are  Tad  and  Phyllis  ? 


132  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
\Looking  at  his  watch.']    Five  past,  by  my  watch. 

Rose. 
\Sitting  at  the  left-hand  end  of  the  table.]    Oh,  never 
mind  them. 

James. 
\To  Stephen.]    P'r'aps  you  told  'em  four-thirty? 

Stephen. 
[Nettled.]    Perhaps  /told  them! 

James. 
All  right,  all  right;  don't  flare  up!     P'r'aps   /did; 
there  was  a  talk  of  making  it  half-past. 

Stephen. 
[Raising  his  arms.]   On  the  day  I  go  to  press 

James. 
Ring  the  bell.     [Opening  the  door  and  calling.]    Maud! 

Maud ! 

[Stephen  rings  the  bell.  Elkin  and  Vallance 
are  now  seated,  Elkin  i7i  the  further  chair  at 
the  right-hand  end  of  the  dining-table,  Val- 
lance in  the  chair  between  Elkin  and  Ai^ii. 
They  open  their  bags  and  sort  and  arrange 
their  papers. 

PONTING. 

We  shall  be  here  till  midnight. 

James. 
Maud ! 

Rose. 
\Pushing  her  chair  away  from  the  table.'\   How  vexing  I 


TEE  THUNDERBOLT  133 

PONTING. 

\^lVith  a  sneer.']  I  suppose  one  can  buy  a  soot  of 
pyjamas  in  the  town,  eh,  Mrs.  James? 

Elkin. 
/  sha'n't  detain  you  long. 

[^Jhe  servant  appears  at  the  door. 

James. 
Maud,  run  down  to  Nelson  Villas — ^just  as  you  are 

Rose. 
\Satirically7\    Don't  hurry  them,  Jim.     PhyUis  is  smart- 
ening herself  up. 

Stephen. 
[Seating  himself  in  the  further  chair  at  the  left-hand  end 
of  the  di?iing-table,  loudly.']    Say  we  are  waiting  for  Mr. 
Thaddeus. 

James. 
\_To  the  girl.]    Mr.  James  and  the  family  are  waiting 
for  Mr.   Thaddeus.    [As   he   closes   the  door.]    Go  along 
Collier  Street ;  you  may  meet  him. 

PONTING. 

[Fussily.]  We  can  deal  with  preliminaries,  at  any 
rate.  Kindly  push  that  ash-tray  a  little  nearer.  [To 
Vallance.]    Mr.  Vallance 

James. 
[Leaving  the  door,  resenting  Fonting' S  assumption  of 
authority.]    I  beg  your  pardon,  Colonel  ;  we'll  give  my 
brother  another  five  minutes'  grace,  with  your  permission. 

PONTING. 

[Shrugging  his  shoulders.]  By  all  means  —  ten^ 
twenty 


134  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 

\Finding  that  he  has  the  newspaper  in  his  hand."]    Oh — 

here !    [^Opening  the  paper.']    While  we're  waiting 

for  Tad 

Stephen. 

Ah,  yes.     Read  it  aloud,  Jim. 

PONTING. 

[Rising  and  moving  away  impatiently.']   Tsch  ! 

James. 
Mr.  Vallance — Mr.  Elkin— oblige   us   by  lisitning  to 
this.     It's  from  the  Courier. 

Stephen. 
This  week's  Courier — published  to-day 

Vallance. 
\To  Elkin.]   One  of  our  local  papers. 

James. 
Owned  by  a  feller  o'  the  name  of  Hammond.    \Read' 
ing.]    ' '  Town  Topics. 

Ann. 
He  married  a  Miss  Robson. 

Louisa. 
A  dreadful  woman. 

Stephen. 
Sssh,  sssh!     Mr.  Hammond's   offensive  remarks  are 
usually  directed  against  myself,  but  in  this  instance 

James. 
\Walki7ig  about  as  he  reads.]    "A  curious  complica- 
tion arises  in  connection  with  the  estate  of  the  late  Mr- 
Edward  Mortimore  of  Linchpool." 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  135 

Stephen. 
He  doesn't  cloak  his  attack,  you  see. 

James. 
"As  many  of  our  readers   are  aware — \running  his 
hands   over  his  pockets}    as  many  of  our   readers   are 

aware 

Stephen. 
He  has  made  them  aware  of  it. 

James. 
[To  Ann.]   Where  did  I  put  them,  mother  ? 

Ann. 
[Producing  her  spectacles.}   Try  mine,  James. 

[Ann  gives  her  spectacles  to  Stephen,  Stephen 
gives  them  to  RosE,  and  Rose  presents  them 
to  James. 

James. 
I'm   getting   as  blear-eyed  as  Stephen.    [Resuming.} 
"  As  many  of  our  readers  are  aware,  the  whole  of  that 
gentleman's  wealth  passes,  in  consequence  of  his  hav- 
ing   died    intestate,    to    a    well-known    Singlehampton 

family " 

Louisa. 
That  points  to  us. 

Stephen. 
[Irritably.}   Of  course  it  does  ;  of  course  it  does. 

Louisa. 
There's  no  better-known  family  in  Singlehampton  than 
ours. 

Stephen. 
Sssh,  sssh ! 


136  TEE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
" two  members  of  which " 

Ann. 

The  Mockfords  were  an  older  family — but  where  are 

the  Mockfords  ? 

James. 
[7^  Ann.]    Give   me   a   chance,  Ann.    [^Continuing.'] 

" two  members  of  which  have  been  for  many  years 

prominently  associated  with  the  temperance  movement 
in  this  town." 

Stephen. 
l^JRising.']    My  brother  James  and  myself. 

James. 
[Standing  at  the  table,  facing  Elkin  and  Vallance, 
in  his  oratorical  manner.]    Twelve  years  ago,  gentlemen, 
I  was  instrumental  in  founding  the  Singlehampton  and 
Claybrook  Temperance  League 

Louisa. 
Stephen  was  another  of  the  founders. 

Stephen. 
[Joining  ]Pi.iiiE.s.']   I  was  another. 

James. 
And  day  in  and  day  out  I  have  devoted  my  best  ener- 
gies to  furthering  the  objects  of  the  League  in  Single- 
hampton and  in  Claybrook. 

Stephen. 
Very  materially  aided  by  the  Times  and  Mirror,  a.  tem- 
perance organ. 


THE   THUNDERBOLT  137 

James. 
And  I  submit  that  it's  holding  us  up  to  ridicule  and 
contempt — holding   us   up   to   public   obloquy   and   de- 
rision   

Vallance. 
[To  James.]   What  is  your  objection  to  the  paragraph, 
Mr.  Mortimore  ? 

James. 
Objection  ! 

Elkin, 
There's  more  to  come,  I  expect. 

James. 
{^Grimly.']    Aye,  a  bit  more.      {^Sitting  at  the  table. '\ 
What  d'ye  think  of  this?  [Reading.']    "When  it  is  re- 
membered that  the  late  Mr,  Mortimore' s  fortune  was  de- 
rived from  the  brewing  and  the  sale  of  beer " 

Stephen. 
[Sitting  beside  James.]   The  word  " beer"  is  in  italics. 

Vallance. 
Oh,  I  see. 

James. 

" it  will  be  understood  that  our  two  distinguished 

fellow-townsmen  are  placed  in  an  extremely  difficult  po- 
sition." 

Stephen. 
This  is  the  most  spiteful  part  of  it. 

James. 
••  We  have  no  doubt,  however,  that,  as  conscientious 
men,  they  will  prove  fully  equal  to  the  occasion  by  either 
renouncing  their  share  of  their  late  brother's  property  or 


138  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

by  dedicating  it  entirely  to  the  advancement  of  the  cause 
they  have  at  heart."  {^Throwing  the  newspaper  to  Elkin 
and  Vallance.]    There  it  is,  gentlemen. 

\In  wandering  round  the  room,  Ponting  has  come 
upon  the  decanter  of  wine  and  the  wine-glasses 
standing  on  the  sideboard.  He  is  now  filling  a 
glass. 

Ponting. 
Every  man  has  a  right  to  his  convictions.    \Taking  the 
glass  in  his  hand.']   A  httle  alcohol  hurts  nobody 

James. 
You  won't  find  any  in  my  house. 

Ponting. 
What's  this,  then  ? 


James. 


Currant. 


Ponting. 
\_Replacing  the  glass,   with   a  wry  face.']   My   dear 

Mortimore ! 

\_He  sits  at  the  right-hand  end  of  the  table,  beside 
Elkin,  and  pries  at  the  documents  which  Elkin 
has  taken  fro?n  his  bag.  Vallance  rt«^ Elkin 
are  reading  the  paragraph  together,  Vallance 
drawing  his  chair  closer  to  Elkin' s  for  thai 
purpose. 

James. 
\To  Vallance.]   Well,  what's  your  opinion,  Mr.  Val* 
lance  ?     Is  that  libellous,  or  isn't  it  ? 

Stephen. 
Does  it,  or  does  it  not,  go  beyond  the  bounds  of  fair 
comment — eh,  Mr.  Elkin  ? 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  139 

Vallance. 
[Pacifically.']   Oh,  but  aren't  you  attaching  a  great  deal 
too  much  importance  to  this  ? 

James. 
Too  much ! 

Elkin. 
Why  not  ignore  it  ? 

Stephen. 
Ignore  it ! 

Vallance. 
Treat  it  as  a  piece  of  pure  chaff — badinage  ^— 

Elkin. 
In  more  or  less  bad  taste. 

Vallance. 
Take  no  notice  of  it  whatever. 

James. 
[^Rising  and  walking  away  to  the  fireplace.'\   Take  no 
notice  of  it !     The  townspeople  will  take  notice  of  it  pretty 
quickly. 

Stephen. 
{Rising.]    In  my  opinion,  that  paragraph  renders  our 
position  in  the  League  absolutely  untenable. 

James. 

[Standing  over  Vallance.]   Unless  that  paragraph  is 
apologized  for,  withdrawn 

Stephen. 
[Standing  over  Elkin.]   Explained  away  — 


140  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
Aye,  explained  away 

Vallance. 
I  don't  see  how  it  can  be  explained  away. 

Elkin. 
\_Dryly.']  The  proposition  is  a  perfectly  accurate  one, 
whatever  you  may  think  of  the  corollary. 

Vallance. 
You  are  ardent  advocates  of  temperance. 

Elkin 
Your  late  brother's  property  was  amassed  mainly  by 
beer. 

Vallance. 
It  can  hardly  be  explained  away. 

Stephen. 
\_lValking  to  the  left  J]    Good  heavens  above,  I've  ex- 
plained things  away  often  enough  in  my  paper ! 

James. 
[^Coming  forward  on  the  right.']   This  does  us  at  the 
League,  then — does  us  ;  knocks  our  influence  into  a  cocked 
hat. 

Elkin. 
[7^  James  and  Stephen,  while  V all auce  folds  the 
paper."]    After  all,  gentlemen,  when  you  come  to  reflect 
upon  it,  the  laugh  is  v^iiYiyou. 

James. 
Is  it? 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  141 

Elkin. 
[^Genially.']   The  Courier  has  its  little  joke,  \y\x\y(nCve 
got  the  money,  remember. 

James. 
Oh,  that's  true. 

Stephen. 
{Walking  about  on  the  left.\   That's  true  ;  that's  true. 

James. 
[  Walking  about  on  the  right,  rattling  his  loose  cash.'] 
Aye,  we've  got  the  mopuses. 

Rose. 
[  Tilting  her  chair  on  its  hind  legs.  ]    I  say ,  Jim — Stephen 
— why  don't  you  two  boys,  between  you,  present  the 
League  with  a  handsome  hall ? 

James. 
[Pausing  in  his  Tvalk.'\    Hall  ? 

Rose. 
Build  the  temperance  folk  a  meeting-place  of  their  own 
— a  headquarters 

PONTING. 

[Mischievously.']    He,  he,  he!     That   'ud  smooth 'em 
down.     Capital  idea,  Rosie  ! 

James  ««^  Stephen. 
We! 


don 


James. 
I'd  see  'em  damned  first.    [To  the  ladies^   I  beg  par- 


142  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Ann. 
[  With  unusual  animation.'}   No,  no  ;  you're  quite  right, 
James. 

Stephen. 
{^At  the  fireplace^   That  would  be  playing  into  Mr. 

Hammond's  hands  with  a  vengeance. 

James. 
[  Walking  across  to  the  left,  derisively^    Ha  !  Wouldn't 
Hammond  crow,  hey  !     Ha,  ha,  ha  ! 

Stephen. 
No,  if  the  situation  becomes  too  acute — painful  as  it 
would  be  to  me — I  shall  resign. 

James. 
[Determinedly.']   Resign. 

Stephen. 
Sever  my  connection  with  the  League. 

James. 
Leave  'em  to  swill  themselves  with  their  lemonade  and 
boiled  tea ! 

Stephen. 
\Coming  forward  on  the  right.]   And  to  find  out  how 
they  get  on  without  us. 

James. 
Serve  'em  up  in  their  own  juice ! 

Stephen. 
{^Meeting  James  in  the  fniddle  of  the  room  on  the  nearer 
side  of  the  dining-table .]    You  know,  Jim,  we've  never 
gone  quite  so  far — you  and  I — with  the  principles  of  tem- 
perance as  some. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  143 

James. 
[Eyeing  him  curiously.']    Never  gone  so  far—? 

Stephen. 
As  old  Bob  Amphlett,  for  example — never. 

James. 
Oh,  yes,  we  have,  and  a  deuced  sight  further. 

Stephen. 
Excuse  me — I've  always  been  for  moderation  rather 
than  for  total  abstinence. 

James. 
Have  yer?     [^Walking  away  to   tJie  left.]    First   I've 
heard  of  it. 

Stephen. 
Anyhow,  a   man   may  broaden   his  views  with  years 
and  experience.    [Argumentatively.]    Take  the  hygienic 
aspect   of  the   case.     Only  the    other   day.  Sir  Vincent 
West,  probably  the  ablest  physician  in  England 

Louisa. 
[Abruptly.]    Stephen ! 

Stephen. 
[Angrily^    Don't  interrupt  me. 

Louisa. 

[With  energy,  rising.]    I've  maintained  it  throughout 
my  life — it's  nothing  new  from  my  lips  — 

Stephen. 
What ? 

Louisa. 
There  are  two  sides  to  every  question. 


144  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Stephen. 
{^Hurrying  round  the  table  to  join  Louis  A.]   Exactly — 

exactly — as  Lou  says 

Louisa. 
It's   been   almost   a   second   religion   with   me.     I've 
preached  it  in  season  and  out  of  season 

Stephen. 
\With  conviction.'^    There  are  two  sides 

Louisa. 
Two  sides  to  every  question. 

James. 

\_To  Ann,  pointing  to  the  door.']   Mother [_The  door 

has  been  opened  by  another  maid-servant,  who  carries  a 
tray  on  which  are  a  plated  kettle,  a  dish  of  toast,  and  a 
plentiful  supply  of  bread-and-butter.  The  girl  remains  in 
the  doorway.  Ann  rises  and  goes  to  her  and  takes  the 
kettle  from  the  tray.  James  comes  forward  and  seats 
himself  on  the  nearer  side  of  the  dinifig-table  in  the  middle 
chair.]  Look  here;  I  don't  wait  another  minute  for  the 
Tads — not  a  second. 

PONTING. 

Ah! 

[Louisa  follows  Ann  and  takes  the  toast  and  the 
bread-and-butter  from  the  servant,  who  then 
disappears,  closing  the  door, 

Stephen. 
[^Again  sitting  in  the  further  chair  at  the  left-hand  end 
of  the  dining- table.]    Inexcusable  of  them — inexcusable. 
[Ann  and  Louisa  cojne  to  the  tea-table  and,  draw- 
ing the  two  armchairs  up  to  it,  seat  themselves 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  145 

and  prepare  the  tea.  The  kettle  is  set  upon  the 
stand,  the  spirit-lamp  is  lighted,  Ann  measures 
the  tea  from  the  caddy  into  the  pot,  and  LouiSA 
cuts  the  plum-cake. 

James. 
Mr.  Elkin— Mr.  Vallance 

PONTING. 

Now,  Mr.  Vallance  ;  now,  Mr.  Elkin! 

Elkin. 
\To  Vallance.]   Will  you ? 

Vallance. 
No,  no — you 

Elkin. 
Well,  gentlemen— [/^  Rose]   Mrs.   Ponting — Mr.  Val- 
lance and  I  have  to  report  to  you  that  we've  received  no 
communication  of  any  kind  in  answer  to  our  circulars 
and  advertisements 

James. 
\To  Ann,  who  is  making  a  clatter  with  the  kettle^ 
Steady,  mother  ! 

Ponting. 
\To  the  ladies  at  the  tea-table?^    Sssh,  sssh,  sssh  ! 

Elkin. 

No  communication  from  any  solicitor  who  has  pre- 
pared a  will  for  your  late  brother,  nor  from  anybody  who 
has  knowingly  witnessed  a  will  executed  by  him. 

Stephen. 
Mr.  Vallance  has  apprised  us  of  this  already. 


146  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
[^Raising  a  hand.~\   Order !     There's  a  formal  way  of 

doing  things  and  a  lax  way. 

Stephen. 

I  merely  mentioned 

[PONTING  raps  the  table  sharply  with  his  knuckles, 

Elkin. 
I  may  say  that,  in  addition  to  the  issuing  of  the  cir- 
culars and  advertisements,  I  have  made  search  in  every 
place  I  could  thmk  of,  and  have  inquired  of  every  person 
likely  to  be  of  help  in  the  matter.  In  fact,  I've  taken 
every  possible  step  to  find,  or  trace,  a  will. 

Vallance. 
Without  success. 

Elkin, 
Without  success. 

James. 
{Magnanimously.']  And  /  say  that  the  family  bears  no 
grudge  to  Mr.  Elkin  for  doing  his  duty. 

Stephen. 
[/«  the  same  spirit.']    Hear,  hear  ! 

PONTING. 

\Testily.'\    Of  course  not ;  of  course  not. 

Rose. 
It's  all  the  more  satisfactory,  it  seems  to  me,  that  he 
has  worried  round. 

James. 
The  family  thanks  Mr.  Elkin. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  147 

Stephen, 
We  thank  Mr.  Elkin. 

Elkin. 

\After  a  stiff  wciinatiotj  of  the  head.'\  The  only  other 
observation  I  wish  to  make  is  tliat  several  gentlemen  em- 
ployed in  the  office  of  the  brewery  in  Linchpool  have  at 
different  times  witnessed  the  late  Mr.  Mortimore's  signa- 
ture to  documents  which  have  apparently  required  the 
attestation  of  two  witnesses. 

PONTING. 

\_Curtly.']   That  amounts  to  nothing. 

James. 
There  are  a  good  many  documents,  aren't  there,  where 
two  witnesses  are  required  to  a  signature  ? 

Elkin. 
Deeds  under  seal,  certainly. 

Stephen. 

I  remember  having  to  sign,  some  years  ago 

[PONTiNG  again  raps  the  table, 

Vallance. 
But  none  of  these  gentlemen  at  the  brewery  can  recall 
that  any  particular  document   appeared  to  him  to  be  a 
will,  which  is  net  a  document  under  seal. 

James. 
Besides,  a  man  signing  a  will  always  tells  the  witnesses 
that  it  is  his  will  they're  witnessing,  doesn't  he,  Mr.  Val- 
lance ? 

Vallance. 
A  solicitor  would,  in  the  ordinary  course  of  practice. 


148  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

inform  the  witnesses  to  a  will  of  the  nature  of  the  docu- 
ment they  were  attesting,  undoubtedly. 

Elkin. 
Granted  ;  but  a  testator,  supposing  he  were  executing 
his  will  in  his  own  house  or  office,  and  not  in  the  presence 
of  a  solicitor,  is  under  no  legal  necessity  to  do  so,  and 
may  omit  to  do  so. 

James. 
\RoUing  about  in  his  chair. '\   Oh,  well,  we  needn't 

PONTING. 

\Looking  at  his  watch.'\   In  heaven's  name ! 

Stephen. 
We  needn't  go  into  all  this. 

Elkin. 
No,  no  ;  I  simply  draw  attention  to  the  point.  {Unfold- 
ing a  document!^  Well,  gentlemen — Mrs,  Ponting — this 
is  a  statement — \_handi71g  another  docu?nent  to  VallanceJ 
here  is  a  copy  of  it,  Mr.  Vallance— this  is  a  statement  of 
particulars  of  stocks,  shares,  and  other  items  of  estate, 
with  their  values  at  the  death  of  the  late  Mr.  Mortimore, 
and  a  schedule  of  the  debts  so  far  as  they  are  known  to 
me. 

[There  is  a  general  movement.  James  rises  and 
goes  to  Vallance.  Stephen  also  rises,  stretch- 
ing out  an  eager  hand  towards  Vallance. 
Rose  draws  nearer  to  the  table,  Ponting  still 
closer  to  Elkin.  Ann  and  Louisa,  too,  show- 
a  disposition  to  desert  the  tea-table. 

James. 
\To  Ann,  as  he  passes  her."]   You  get  on  with  the  tea, 
mother.    [77?  Vallance.]   Allow  me,  Mr.  Vallance 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  149 

[Vallance  ^tves  him  the  duplicate  of  the  state* 
ment. 

PONTING. 

What's  it  come  out  at ;  what's  it  come  out  at  ? 

Stephen. 
What's  it  come  out  at  ? 

Rose. 
Yes,  what  does  it  come  out  at  ?    Jim 

Stephen. 

Jim 

\}  AUKS  Joins  Stephen  atid  they  examine  the  dupH- 
cafe  together.  Rose  rises  and  endeavors  to  read 
it  with  them. 

Elkin. 
I  estimate  the  gross  value  of  the  estate,  which,  as  you 
will  see,  consists  entirely  of  personal  property,   at  one 
hundred  and  ninety-two  tliousand  pounds. 

PONTING. 

The  gross  value. 

Stephen. 
Yes,  but  what  do  we  get  ? 

PONTING  rtW^ROSE. 

What  do  we  get  ? 

James. 
After  all  deductions. 

Elkin. 
Roughly    speaking,    after   payment   of    debts,    death 
duties,  and  expenses,  there  will  be  about  a  hundred  and 


150  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

seventy  thousand  pounds  to  divide.  [Those  who  are 
standing  sit  again.  James  seats  himself  next  to  Stephen 
and,  with  pen  and  ink,  they  make  calculations  on  paper. 
PONTING  does  the  same.  Rose,  closing  her  eyes,  fans  her- 
self happily,  and  the  two  ladies  at  the  tea-table  resume  their 
preparations  with  beamitig  countenances.  Elkin  leans 
back  in  his  chair.']    Mr.  Vailance 

Vallance. 
[To  Rose,  James,  and  Stephen.]  Mrs,  Ponting  and 
gentlemen — [Ponting  raps  the  table  and  James  and 
Stephen  look  up]  I  advise  you  that,  as  next-of-kin  of 
the  late  Mr.  Mortimore,  if  you  are  satisfied — and  in  my 
opinion  you  may  reasonably  be  satisfied — that  he  died 
intestate — I  advise  you  that  any  one  or  more  of  you,  not 
exceeding  three,  [the  door  opens  quietly  and  Thaddeus 
appears.  He  is  very  pale,  but  is  outwardly  cahn.  After  a 
look  in  the  direction  of  the  table,  he  closes  the  door]  may 
apply  for  Letters  of  Administration  of  your  late  brother's 
estate.  It  isn't  necessary  or  usual,  however,  I  may  tell 
you,  to  have  more  than  one  administrator,  and  I  sug- 
gest   

[Hearing  the  click  of  the  lock  as  Thaddeus  shuts 
the  door,  everybody  turns  and  glances  at  him. 

Rose. 
[Opening  her  eyes.]    Here's  Tad. 

Stephen. 
[Grumpily.]  Oh 

Rose. 
[7^5jm^  Thaddeus  a  greeting.]    Hallo! 

James. 
[  72?  Thaddeus,  with  a  growl.]   Oh,  you've  arrived. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  151 

Stephen. 
[To  Thaddeus.]    Did  I  say  four  or  half-past ? 

Louisa. 
Where's  PhyUis  ? 

Ann. 
Where's  Phyllis? 

Thaddeus. 
\_In  a  low  voice,  advaficing.']   She — she  didn't  feel  well 

enough 

[PONTING  raps  the  inkstand  with  his  penholder^ 

James. 
{Pointing  to   the   chair  beside  him,   i?nperatively.'\    Sit 
down  ;  sit  down.     [Thaddeus  sits,  his  elbows  o?i  the  table, 
his  eyes  cast  downJ]    Mr.  Vallance 

Vallance. 
[To  Thaddeus.]   Good-afternoon,  Mr.  Mortimore. 

Elkin. 
\Nodding  to  Thaddeus.]    How  d'ye  do  ? 

Thaddeus. 
{Almost  inaudibly.']   Good-afternoon. 

Vallance. 
[To  the  others.^   I  suppose  we  needn't  go  back         ? 

A  Murmur. 
No,  no  ;  no,  no. 

James. 

[Pushing  the  duplicate  of  the  statement  under  Thad- 
deus's  eyes^  A  hundred  and  seventy  thousand  pound  to 
divide. 


152  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Stephen. 
A  hundred  and  seventy  thousand. 

PONTING. 

[Finishing  his  sum.']    Forty-two  thousand  five  hundred 
apiece. 

Vallance. 
[Resuming.]  I  was  saying  that  it  isn't  usual  to  have 
more  than  one  administrator,  and  I  was  about  to  suggest 
that  the  best  course  will  be  for  you,  Mr.  James,  to  act  in 
that  capacity,  and  for  you,  Mr.  Stephen,  and  you,  Mr. 
Thaddeus,  or  one  of  you,  and  Colonel  Ponting,  to  be  the 
sureties  to  the  bond  for  the  due  administradon  of  the 
estate. 

James. 
{Cheerfully 7[    I'm  in  your  hands,  Mr.  Vallance. 

Stephen. 
I'm  agreeable. 

Ponting. 
And  I. 

Vallance. 
The  procedure  is  this — perhaps  I'd  better  explain  it. 
[Producing  a  form  of''  O  ath  for  Administrators''  which  is 
among  his  papers.]  The  intended  administrator  will  make 
an  affidavit  stating  when  and  where  the  deceased  died, 
that  he  died  intestate,  [Thaddeus  looks  up]  a  bachelor 
without  a  parent,  and  that  the  deponent  is  a  natural  and 
lawful  brother  and  one  of  the  next-of-kin  of  the  de- 
ceased   

Thaddeus. 
[727?/f^/«^  Vallance' s  arm^   Mr.  Vallance—- 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  153 

Vallance. 


Eh? 


Thaddeus. 
We — we  mustn't  go  on  with  this. 

Vallance. 
I  beg  pardon  ? 

Thaddeus. 
The  family  mustn't  go  on  with  this, 

Vallance. 
Mustn't  go  on ? 

James. 
[To  Thaddeus.]   What  a'yer  talking  about? 

Thaddeus. 
\_After  a  hurried  look  round.~\    There — there  was  ^ 

will. 

Vallance. 
A  will? 

Thaddeus. 
He — he  made  a  will. 

James. 
Whod^dL} 

Thaddeus. 
Edward.     He — he  left  a  will. 

James. 
\_Roughiy.'\  What  the 1 


164  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Elkin. 
[7<?  James,  interrupting  hi?n.']   One   moment.      Your 
brother  has  something  to  say  to  us,  Mr.  Mortimore. 

Stephen. 
What — what's  he  mean  by .'' 

Elkin. 
\To  Stephen.]    Please— [27?   Thaddeus.]    Yes,  sir? 
[Thaddeus  is  silent.']    What  about  a  will  ?   [Thaddeus 
is  stilt  silent.']    Eh  .? 


I — I  saw  it. 
Saw  a  will  ? 


Thaddeus. 
Elkin. 


Thaddeus. 
I — I  opened  it — I — I  read  it  ^— 

Elkin. 
Read  it  ? 

Thaddeus. 
I — tore  it  up — got  rid  of  it. 

[^Again  there  is  siletice,  the  MORTIMORES  and  the 
Pontings  sitting  open-mouthed  and  motionless. 

Elkin. 
\_After  a  while.]    Mr.  Vallance,  I  think  we  ought  to  tell 
Mr.  Mortimore  that  he  appears  to  be  making  a  confession 
of  the  gravest  kind 

Vallance, 
Yes. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  156 

Elkin. 
One  that  puts  him  in  a  very  serious  position. 

Vallance. 
[To   Thaddeus,   af/er  a  further  pause.'\     Mr.    Morti- 

more ? 

[Thaddeus  makes  no  response. 

Elkin. 
If,  understanding  that,  he  chooses  to  continue,  there  is 
nothing  to  prevent  our  hearing  him. 

Thaddeus. 
{Looking  straight  before  him,  his  arms  still  upon  the 
table,  locki7ig  and  unlocking  his  hands  as  he  speaks^  It — 
it  happened  on  the  Wednesday  night — in  Cannon  Row — 
in  Ned's  house — the  night  before  he  died — the  night  we 
were  left  without  a  nurse.  {Another  pause.  Vallance 
takes  a  sheet  of  paper  and  selects  a  pen.  Y.\MiUi  pushes  the 
inkstand  nearer  to   him.'\    Mrs.  James — and — and  Mrs. 

Stephen — my — my  sisters-in-law 

[Ann  and  Louisa  get  to  their  feet  and  advance  a 
step  or  two. 

Elkin. 
{Hearing  the  rustle  of  their  skirts  and  turning  to  them.l 
Keep  your  seats,  ladies,  please. 

{They  sit  again,  drawing  their  chairs  close  together. 

Thaddeus. 
My  sisters-in-law  had  gone  home — that  is,  to  their 
hotel — to  get  a  few  hours'  sleep  in  case  of  their  having  to 
sit  up  through  the  night,  Jim  and  Stephen  and  I  were 
out  and  about,  trying  to  find  a  night-nurse  who'd  take 
Nurse  Ralston's  place  temporarily.  At  about  nine 
o'clock,  I  looked  in  at  Cannon  Row,  to  see  how  things 
were  getting  on. 


156  TEE  THUNDERBOLT 

Vallance. 
\_Wko   is   writing.']    The  Wednesday?     Mr.    Edward 
Mortimore  dying  on  Thursday,  the  twentieth  of  June  — 

Elkin. 
On  the  morning  of  Thursday,  the  twentieth. 

Vallance. 
That  makes  the  Wednesday  we  are  speaking  of,  Wed- 
nesday, June  the  nineteenth. 

Elkin. 
\To  Thaddeus.]    You  looked  in  at  Cannon  Row ? 

Vallance. 
At  about  nine  o'clock  on  the  night  of  Wednesday,  June 
the  nineteenth. 

Thaddeus. 
I— I  went  up-stairs  and  sat  by  Ned's  bed,  and  by  and 
by  he  began  talking  to  me  about — about  Phyllis.     He — 
he'd  taken  rather  a  fancy  to  her,  he  said,  and  he  wanted 
to  give  her  a  memento — a  keepsake. 

Elkin. 

Phyllis ? 

Vallance. 
[72?  Elkin.]   His  wife,    [r^  Thaddeus.]  Your  wife? 

[Thaddeus  nods. 

Elkin. 
[^Recollecting.']   Of  course. 

Thaddeus. 

[Moistening  his  lips  with  his  tongue."]  He — he  had 
some  little  bits  of  jewelry  in  his  safe,  and  he — he  asked 
me  to  go  down-stairs  and — and  to  bring  them  up  to  him. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  157 

Elkin. 
[Keettiy.l   In  his  safe  ? 

Vallance. 
The  safe  in  the  Ubrary  ? 

[Thaddeus  nods  again. 


Quite  so. 
And— er ? 


Elkin. 
Vallance. 


Thaddeus. 

He — he  gave  me  his  keys,  and  I — I  went  down — I 

\^He  stops  suddenly  and  Vallance  glafices  at  him. 
Noticing  his  extretne  pallor,  Vallance  looks 
round  the  room.  Seeing  the  water-bottle  upon 
the  sideboard,  Vallance  rises  and  fills  the 
tumbler.  Returning  to  the  table,  he  places  the 
glass  before  Thaddeus  and  resumes  his  seat. 

Thaddeus. 
\_After  a  gulp  of  water.']    It  was — it  was  in  the  drawer 
of  the  safe — the  drawer 

Elkin. 

What  was  ? 

Thaddeus. 
\_Wiping  his  mouth  with  his  handkerchief]    A  large 
envelope — a  large  envelope — the  envelope  containing  the 
will. 

Vallance. 
How  did  you  know ? 


158  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Thaddeus. 
••  My  Will  "  was  written  on  it. 

Vallance. 
IWriiin^.']    "  My  Will  " 

Elkin. 
On   the  envelope  ?    [Thaddeus  nods."]    You  say  you 
opened  it  ? 

[Thaddeus  nods, 

Vallance. 
Opened  the  envelope 

Elkin. 
And  inside — you  found ? 

Vallance, 
What  did  you  find  ? 

Thaddeus. 
Ned's  will. 

Vallance. 
[ffnV/«^.]    What   appeared   to   be  your  brother  Ed- 
ward's will. 

Elkin. 
You  read  it?    [Thaddeus  ?iods.^    You  recollect  who 
was  interested  under  it?     [Thaddeus  nods.']    Will  you 

tell  us ? 

\_T/ie  Mortimores  and  the  Pontings  crane  their 
necks  forward,  Hsteniiig  breathlessly. 

Thaddeus. 
He   left  everything — {taking  another  gulp  of  water] 
everything — to  Miss  Thornhill. 


TEE  THUNDERBOLT  159 

\There  is  a  slight,  undecided  movement  on  the  part 
of  the  MoRTiMORES  and  the  Pontings. 

Elkin. 
\CalmIy  bid  firmly^     Keep  your  seats  ;   keep  your 
seats,  please.    \To  Thaddeus.]    Can  you  recall  the  gen- 
eral form  of  the  will  ? 

Thaddeus. 
{Straining  his  memory. "l    Everything  he  had — died  pos- 
sessed   of— to    Helen   Thornhill — spinster — of  some    ad- 
dress in  Paris — absolutely.     And — and  he  appointed  her 
his  sole  executrix. 

Elkin. 
Do  you  recollect  the  date  ? 

Thaddeus. 

Date ? 

Elkin. 
Did  you  observe  the  date  of  the  will  ? 

Thaddeus. 
{Quickly^    Oh,  yes  ;  it  was  made  three  years  ago, 

Elkin. 
[  To  Vallance.]    When  she  came  of  age. 

Thaddeus. 
Oh,  and  he  asked  her  to  remember  his  servants — old 
servants  at  the  brewery  and  in  Cannon  Row.    \Leaning 
back,  exhausted.']    There  was  nothing  else.     It  was  very 
short — written  by  Ned 

Elkin. 
The  whole  of  it?    [Thaddeus  nods,  with  half-closed 
eyes.'\   The  whole  of  it  was  in  his  handwriting  ?   [Thad- 


160  TEE  THUNDERBOLT 

DEUS  nods  again.']  Ah!  [Tc?  Vallance,  with  a  note  of 
triumph  in  his  voice. ~\  A  holograph  will,  Mr.  Vallance, 
prepared  by  the  man  himself. 

Vallance. 
\Now  taking  up  the  questioning  of  Thaddeus.]    Tell 
me,  Mr.  Mortimore — have  you  any  exact  recollection  as 
to  whether  this  document,  which  you  describe  as  a  will, 
was  duly  signed  and  witnessed  ? 

Thaddeus. 
\^Rousing  himself]    It  was — it  was — signed  by  Ned. 

Vallance. 
Was  it  signed,  not  only  by  your  brother,  but  by  two 
witnesses   under   an    attestation   clause    stating  that  the 
testator  signed  in  the  joint  presence  of  those  witnesses 
and  that  each  of  them  signed  in  his  presence  ? 

Thaddeus. 
I — I  don't  recollect  that. 

Vallance. 
\Writing.'\    You've  no  recollection  of  that, 

[James,  Stephen,  and  Ponting  stir  themselves. 

James. 
\Hoarsely^    He  doesn't  recollect  that,  Mr.  Vallance. 

Stephen. 
\In   quavering  tones.]    No,  he — he    doesn't  recollect 
that. 

Ponting. 
[Pulling    at    his    moustache    with    trembling  fingers.'^ 
That's  most  important,  Mr.  Vallance,  isn't  it — isn't  it.'* 


TEE  THUNDERBOLT  161 

Vallance. 
[  To  Thaddeus,  not  heeding  the  interruption^   You  say 
you  destroyed  this  document 

Elkin. 
Tore  it  up. 

Vallance. 
When— and  where  ?   In  the  room— in  the  library  ? 

Thaddeus. 
\Thinking.'\    N-no — out  of  doors. 

Vallance. 
Out  of  doors.     When  ? 

Thaddeus. 
\Ataloss.'\  When ? 

Vallance. 
When.    \Looking  at  him   in  surprise."]   You  can't  re* 
member ? 

Thaddeus. 
{Recollecting.']    Oh,  yes,  yes,  yes,  yes.     Some  time  be- 
tween ten  and  eleven  on  the  Thursday  morning,  after  I 
left  Phyllis — after  I  left  my  wife  at  Roper's  to  be  meas- 
ured for  her  black. 

Vallance. 
{Writing.']   What  did  you  do  then? 

Thaddeus. 
[Readily.]    I  went  to  Ford  Street  bridge,  and  tore  up 
the  paper,  and  dropped  the  pieces  into  the  Linch. 

Vallance. 
[  Writing. ]    Into  the  river 


162  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Elkin. 

One  more  question,  Mr.  Mortimore — to  make  yourmo- 
tive  perfectly  clear  to  us.  May  we  assume  that,  on  the 
night  of  June  the  nineteenth,  you  were  sufficiently  ac- 
quainted with  the  law  of  intestacy  to  know  that,  if  this 
dying  man  left  no  will,  you  would  be  likely  to  benefit 
considerably  ? 

Thaddeus. 
Well,  I— I  had— the  idea 

Elkin. 
The  idea? 

Thaddeus. 
I — I {^Recollecting.']    Oh,  yes  ;  there'd  been  a  dis- 
cussion in  the  train,  you  see,  on  the  Tuesday,  going  to 
Linchpool 

Elkin. 
Discussion  ? 

Thaddeus. 
Among  us  all,  as  to  how  a  man's  money  is  disposed  of, 
if  he  dies  intestate. 

Elkin. 
\_Nodding.'\   Precisely.   [T^ James  ««^ Stephen.]   You 
remember  that  conversation  taking  place,  gentlemen  ? 

James. 
Oh,  I — I  dessay. 

Elkin. 
[To  Thaddeus.]   So  that,  when  you  came  upon  the  en- 
velope with  the  endorsement  upon  it — "  My  Will  " ? 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  Ida 

Thaddeus. 
[^Leaning  his  head  upon  his  hands.']   Yes — yes 

Vallance. 
{^Running  his  eyes  over  his  notes,  to  Thaddeus.]    Have 
you  anything  to  add,  Mr.  Mortimore? 

Thaddeus. 
\Jn  a  muffled  voice.]    No.    {Quickly.]    Oh,  there  is  one 
thing  I  should  hke  to  add.    {^Brokenly.]    With  regard  to 

Miss  Thornhill — I — I  hope  you'll  bear  in  mind  that  I 

that  none  of  us — heard  from  Mr.  Elkin  of  the  existence 
of  a  child— a  daughter— till  the  Thursday— middle- 
day 

Elkin. 
That  is  so. 

Thaddeus. 
It  doesn't  make  it  much  better  ;  only — a  girl — alone  in 
the  world — one  viowX^vi  \~\breaking  off]  no,  I've  noth- 
ing more  to  say. 

Elkin. 
\To  Thaddeus.]   And  we  may  take  it  that  your  pres- 
ent act,  Mr.  Mortimore,  is  an  act  of  conscience,  purely  t 
[Thaddeus   itic lines  his  head.     There  is  silence 
again,   the  Mortimores   and  the  Pontings 
presenting  a  picture  of  utter  wretchedness.     The 
ladies   tears  begin  tofiow. 

James. 
\Aftera  time,  speaking  with  some  difficulty^   Well  — 

Stephen. 
\Piteously.]  Mr.  Vallance ? 


164  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
What — what's  to  be  done,  Mr.  Vallance? 

PONTING. 

\_To  the  iadies."]    For  God's  sake,  be  quiet ! 

James. 
[^  clenched  fist  on  the  table. '\    What  we  want  to  know 
is — what  we   want   to   know   is — who  does  my  brother 
Edward's  money  belong  to  now — her  ox  us  ? 

Stephen. 
\In  agony. '\    Her  ! 

PONTING. 

Don't  be  a  damn  fool,  Mortimore  ! 

Vallance. 
Well,  gentlemen,   I   confess   I   am  hardly  prepared  to 
express  an  opinion  off-hand  on  the  legal  aspect  of  the 
case 

PONTING. 

The  will's  torn  up — it's  destroyed 1 

Stephen. 
It's  destroyed — gone— gone  ! 

PONTING. 

Gone. 

Vallance. 
But  I  need  not  remind  you,  there  is  another  aspect —— 

PONTING. 

I  don't  care  a  rap  for  any  other  aspect 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  ie6» 

Stephen. 
We  want  the  law  explained  to  us — the  law  — 

PONTING.  >^ 

The  law ! 

James. 
[7i>ELKlN.]    Mr.  Elkin ? 

Elkin. 
You  appeal  to  me,  gentlemen  ? 

Stephen  afid  Ponting. 
Yes — yes 

Elkin. 
Then  I  feel  bound  to  tell  you  that  /  shall  advise  Miss 
Thornhill,  as  the  executrix  named  in  the  will,  to  apply  to 
the  Court  for  probate  of  its  substance  and  effect 

Vallance. 
{To  Elkin.]    Ask  the   Court  to  presume  the  will  to 
have  been  made  in  due  form ? 

Elkin. 
Decidedly. 

[Stephen  and  Ponting  fall  back  in  their  seats 
in  a  stupor,  and  once  more  there  is  silence, 
broken  only  by  the  sound  of  the  women  snivel- 
ing. Elkin  a7id  Vallance  slowly  proceed 
to  collect  their  papers, 

James. 
\_Tuming  upon  Thaddeus,  brutally.']    Have  you — have 
you  told  Phylhs — have  you  told  your  wife  what  you've 
been  up  to  ? 


166  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

[At  the  mention  of  Phyllis,  there  is  a  movement 
of  indignation  on  the  part  of  the  ladies. 

Rose. 
Ha! 

James. 
\To  Thaddeus.]    Have  yer? 

Thaddeus. 
Y-yes — ^just  before  I  came  out.   [  Weakly^  That — that's 
what  made  me  so  late. 

James. 
\_Between  his  teeth."]   What  does  she  think  of  yer? 

Thaddeus. 
Oh,  she — she's  dreadfully — cut  up — of  course. 

Rose. 
[Hysterically.]    The  jewelry  !     Ha,  ha,  ha  !    [Rising^ 
She's  managed  to  get  hold  of  some  of  the  jewelry,  at 
any  rate. 

Ann. 
[  With  a  sob.]   Yes,  she — she  managed  thai, 

Louisa. 
[Mopping  her  face.]   She's  kept  that  from  us  artfully 
enough. 

Rose. 
[Going  over  to  Ann  and  Louisa,  who  rise  to  receive 
Iter.]    Ha,  ha!    Edward's  "little  bits"  of  jewelry  ! 

Ann. 

Little  bits ! 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  1«7 

Rose. 
They're  little  bits  that  are  left. 

Louisa. 
How  many  did  she  have  of  them,  I  wonder  I 

Rose. 
She  shall  be  made  to  restore  them 

Louisa. 
Every  one  of  them. 

Thaddeus. 

No,  no,  no \_Stretching  out  a  hand  towards  the 

ladies.']  Rosie — Ann — Lou — Phyllis  hadn't  any  of  the 
jewelry — not  a  scrap.  I  put  it  all  back  into  the  safe.  I 
— I  swear  she  hadn't  any  of  it. 

Elkin. 
Why  did  you  do  that  ? 

Thaddeus. 
[^Agitatedly.']   Why,  you  see,  Mr.  Elkin,  when  I  carried 
it  up-stairs,  I  found  my  brother  Edward  in  a  state  of  col- 
lapse— a  sort  of  faint 

Elkin. 
[With  a  nod.]   Ah 

Thaddeus. 
And    Phyllis — my  wife — she   sent  me  off  at  once  for 
the   doctor.     It   was  on   rhe  Wednesday  evening,   you 
know 

Vallance. 
[Pricking  up  his  ears.]  Your  wife,  Mr.  Mortimore ? 


168  TEE   THUNDERBOLT 

Thaddeus. 
It  was  on  the  Wednesday  evening  that  the  change 
set  in. 

Vallance. 
[To  Thaddeus.]   Your  wife  sent  you  off  at  once ? 

Thaddeus. 
[To  Vallance.]   To  fetch  the  doctor. 

Vallance. 

[Raising  his  eyebrows.']   Oh,  Mrs.  Mortimore  was  in  the 
house  while  all  this  was  going  on  ? 

Thaddeus. 
Y-yes;  she  was  left  in  charge  of  him — in  charge  of 
Ned 

Elkin. 
[To  Vallance,  in  explanation^^    To  allow  these  other 
ladies  to  rest,  preparatory  to  their  taking  charge  later. 

Thaddeus. 
Yes. 

Vallance. 
I  hadn't  gathered 

James. 
[  Who  had  been  sitting  glaring  into  space,  thoughtfully?^ 
Hold  hard.    [7b  Thaddeus.]    K?«  didn't  go  for  the  doc- 
tor. 

Thaddeus. 
Yes,  I — I  went 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  169 

Stephen. 
[^Awakening from  his  irajice.']    Phyllis  sent  the  cook  for 
the  doctor. 

Thaddeus. 
Yes,  yes  ;  you're  quite  right.     The  cook  was  the  first 
to  go 

Elkin. 
[7i7  Thaddeus.]   You  followed? 

Thaddeus. 
I  followed. 

James. 
{Knitting  his  brows.']    It  must  have  been  a  good  time 

afterwards. 

Thaddeus. 
Y-yes,  perhaps  it  was. 

James. 
I  was  at  Dr.  Oswald's  when  the  woman  arrived.     The 
doctor  was  out,  and 

Vallance. 
\To  Thaddeus.]    You  said  your  wife  sent  you  at  once. 

Thaddeus. 
Told  me  to  go  at  once.     There — there  was  the  jewelry 
to  put  back  into  the  safe 

Vallance. 
{Eyeing  Thaddeus.]    What  time  was  it  when  you  got 
to  the  doctor's  ? 

Thaddeus. 
Oh — ten,  I  should  say — or  a  quarter-past. 


170  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
[Shaking  his  head."]   No.     I  sat  there,  waiting  for  Dr. 

Oswald  to  come  in 

Stephen. 
[To  Thaddeus.]    Besides,  that  couldn't  have  been  ; 
you  were  with  me  then. 

James. 
[To  Stephen.]   Was  he  ? 

Stephen. 
Why,   yes ;   he  and  I  were  at  the  Nurses'   Home  in 
Wharton  Street  from  half-past  nine  till  ten. 

James. 
Half-past  nine ? 

Stephen. 
[Becoming   more   confident  as   he  proceeds."]    And   we 
never  left  each  other  till  we  went  back  to  Cannon  Row. 

Vallance. 
Let  us  understand  this 

PONTING. 

[Who  has  gradually  revived,  eagerly."]    Yes — yes — [to 
the  ladies]  Sssh ! 

Stephen. 
And,  what's  more,  we  allowed  ourselves  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  to  walk  to  Wharton  Street. 

James. 
[Quietly,  looking  round.]   Hallo 1 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  171 

Thaddeus. 
It — it's  evident  that  I — that  I'm  mistaken  in  thinking 
that  I — that  I  went  to  Dr.  Oswald's 

Vallance. 
Mistaken  ? 

Thaddeus. 
I — I  suppose  that,  as  the  woman  had  already  gone, 

I — I  considered  it — wasn't  necessary [  7o  Elkin  and 

Vallance,  passitig  his  hand  before  his  eyes.'\    You  must 
excuse  my  stupidity,  gentlemen. 

Vallance. 
[  To  Thaddeus,  distrustfully :\   Then,  according  to  your 
brother  Stephen,  Mr.    Mortimore,  you   were  in  Cannon 
Row,  on  the  occasion  of  this  particular  visit,  no  longer 
than  from  nine  o'clock  till  a  quarter-past  ? 

Stephen. 
Not  so  long,  because  we  met,  by  arrangement,  at  a 
quarter-past  nine,  in  the  hall  of  the  Grand  Hotel 

James. 
The  hotel's  six  or  seven  minutes'  walk  from  Cannon 
Row 

PONTING. 

Quite,  quite. 

Thaddeus. 

\_A  little  wildly.~\  I  said  I  called  in  at  Cannon  Row  at 
about  nine  o'clock.  It  may  have  been  half-past  eight ;  it 
may  have  been  eight 

James. 
Ann    and    Lou   didn't  leave   Cannon   Row   till   past 

eight 


172  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Louisa. 
[Standing,  with  Ann  and  Rose,  by  the  iea-tabie."]   It 
had  gone  eight 

James. 
I  walked  'em  round  to  the  Grand 

Stephen. 
The  three  of  us  walked  with  them  to  the  Grand  —  I 

Louisa. 
All  three 

James. 
So  we  did. 

Stephen. 
[Exciiedly.l   And  then  Thaddeus  went  off  to  the  Clar- 
ence Hospital  with  a  note  from  Dr.  Oswald 

James. 
By  George,  yes ! 

Stephen. 
I  left  him  opposite  the  Exchange — it  must  have  been 

nearly  half-past  eight  then ! 

[James  rises.    The  ladies  draw  nearer  to  the  din- 
ing-table. 

Thaddeus. 
Ah,  but  I  didn't  go  to  the  hospital — I  didn't  go  to  the 
hospital 

Stephen. 
[Rising^   Yes,   you  did.     You  brought  a  note  back 
from  the  hospital,  for  us  to  take  to  Wharton  Street 


THE   THUNDERBOLT  173 

Vallance. 
\To  Elkin.I    How  far  is  the  Clarence  Hospital  from 
the  Exchange? 

Elkin. 

A  ten  minutes'  drive.     It's  on  the  other  side  of  the 
water. 

Thaddeus. 
I — I — I'd  forgotten  the  hospital 

James. 
[Scowling  at  Thaddeus.]    Forgotten ? 

Thaddeus. 
I — I — I  mean  I — I  thought  the  hospital  came  later — 
after  I'd  been  to  Wharton  Street 

James. 
[Going  to  Vallance  and  tapping  him  on  the  5houlder.~\ 
Mr.  Vallance 

Thaddeus. 
I — I  must  have  gone  to  Cannon  Row  betweeft  my  re- 
turn from  the  hospital  and  my  meeting  Stephen  at  the 
Grand 

James. 
[To  Elkin  and  Vallance.]    Why,  he  couldn't  have 
done  it,  gentlemen 

PONTING. 

Impossible  ! 

Stephen. 
It's  obvious  ;  he  couldn't  have  done  it. 


174  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Thaddeus. 
I — I  was  only  a  few  minutes  at  the  hospital — . 

Elkin. 
{Scribbling  on  the  back  of  a  document'\   Oh,  yes,  he 
could  have  done  it — barely 

Vallance. 
{Making  a  menial  calculation. '\   Assuming  that  he  left 
his  brother  at  the  Exchange  at  eight-twenty 

Elkin. 
Ten  minutes  to  the  hospital. 

Vallance. 
If  he  drove  there 

Thaddeus. 
I  did  drive — I  did  drive 

PONTING. 

\Who  is  also  figuring  it  out  on  paper."]  Ten  minutes 
back 

Elkin. 
Ten  minutes  at  the  hospital 

PONTING. 

Eight-fifty 

Thaddeus. 
Eight-fifty  in  Cannon  Row  !     That  was  it— that  was  it» 
Mr.  Elkin 

James. 
Give  him  twenty  minutes  in   Cannon   'Ro'w— give  it 
him !     He  couldn't  have  done  all  he  says  he  did  in  the 
time,  gentlemen 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  175 

Stephen. 
He  couldn't  have  done  it 

PONTING. 

Impossible ! 

Elkin. 
\To  PONTING.]   No,  no,  please — not  impossible. 

Vallance. 
{^To  Stephen.]   When  you  met  Mr.  Thaddeus  Morti- 
more — you — when  you  met  him  in  the  hall  of  the  Grand 
Hotel,  before  starting  for  Wharton  Street,  did  he  say  any- 
thing to  you  as  to  his  having  just  called  at  the  house ? 

Stephen. 
No. 

Vallance. 

Nothing  as  to  an  alarming  change  in  your  brother's 
condition  ? 

Stephen. 
Not  a  syllable. 

James. 
[To  Elkin  a«^  Vallance.]    Oh,  there's  a  screw  loose 
here,  gentlemen,  surely  ? 

Stephen. 
\7oimng  James.]    That   is   most  extraordinary,    Mr. 
Vallance — isn't  it  ?     Not  a  syllable ! 

[Ann  and  Louis  a  jom  their  husbands  and  the  four 
gather  round  Elkin  and  Vallance.  Rose 
stands  deht'nd  Fontiug's  chair. 


176  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Thaddeus. 
You  see — Edward — Edward  had  rallied  before  I  left 
Cannon     Row.      He — he'd    fallen    into    a    nice,    quiet 
sleep 

James. 
All  in  twenty  minutes,  gentlemen — twenty  minutes  at 
the  outside  ! 

Vallance. 
[  7b  Thaddeus.]   Mr.  Mortimore 

Ann. 
I  remember 

PONTING. 

\_To  Ann.]    Hold  your  tongue  ! 

Vallance. 
Mr.  Mortimore,  who  lei  you  into  the  house  in  Cannon 
Row  on  the  night  of  June  the  nineteenth ? 

Ponting. 
Ah,  yes 

Vallance. 
At  any  time  between  the  hours  of  eight  o'clock ? 

Stephen. 
And  eleven. 

Elkin. 
[  To  Thaddeus.]   Who  gave  you  admittance — which  of 

the  servants  ? 

Thaddeus. 
I — I  can't — I  diOVi  \—\blankly ,  addressing  Vallance] 
was  it  the — the  butler ? 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  177 

Vallance. 
No,  no  ;   I  ask  you.    [To  Elkin,  who  nods  in  reply. '\ 
Have  you  the  servants'  addresses  ? 

Thaddeus. 
But  you  wouldn't — you  wouldn't  trust  to  the  servants* 
memories  as  to — as  to  which  of  them  opened  the  front 
door  to  me  a  month  ago  !    [  With  an  attempt  at  a  laugh.'] 
It's  ridiculous  ! 

Elkin. 
[^Reprovingly.']   Ah,  now,  now,  Mr.  Mortimore  ! 

Thaddeus. 
[Starting  up  from  the  table.]    Oh,  it  isn't  fair — it  isn't 
fair  of  you  to  badger  me  hke  this  ;  it  isn't  fair ! 

Vallance. 
Nobody  desires  to  "  badger  "  you 

Thaddeus. 
Trip  me  up,  then — confuse  me.  \At  the  left-hand  end 
of  the  table,  clutching  the  back  of  a  chair ^  The  will — the 
will's  the  main  point — Ned's  will.  What  does  it  matter — 
what  can  it  matter,  to  a  quarter  of  an  hour  or  so — when 
I  was  in  Cannon  Row,  or  how  long  I  was  there  ?  One 
would  think,  by  the  way  I'm  being  treated,  gentlemen, 
that  I'd  something  to  gain  by  this,  instead  of  everything 
to  lose — everything  to  lose  ! 

James. 
[Coming  forward,   on   the  further  side  of  the  table,'\ 
Don't  you  whine  about  \s);\2X you  ve  got  to  lose ! 

Stephen. 
[jfoining  him.]   What  about  us  / 


178  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

The  Ladies. 
Us! 

PONTING. 

\^Hitting  the  table. 1    Yes,  confound  you! 

Vallance. 
Colonel  Ponting ! 

Elkin. 
[  To  James  and  Stephen.]    It  seems  to  me — if  my  friend 
Mr.  Vallance  will  allow  me  to  say  so — that  you  are  really 
bearing  a  little  hardly  on  your  brother  Thaddeus. 

Thaddeus. 
[Gratefully.]   Thank  you,  Mr.  Elkin. 

Elkin. 
What  reason — what  possible  reason  can  there  be  for 
doubting  his  good  faith  ? 

Thaddeus. 
Thank  you. 

Elkin. 
Here  is  a  man  who  forfeits  a  considerable  sum  of 
money,  and  deliberately  places  himself  in  peril,  in  order 
to  right  a  wrong  which  nobody  on  earth  would  have  sus- 
pected him  of  committing.  Mr.  Mortimore  is  accusing 
himself  of  a  serious  offense,  not  defending  himself  from  it. 

Vallance. 
[^Obstinately.']  What  we  beg  of  Mr.  Mortimore  to  do> 
for  the  sake  of  all  parties,  is  to  clear  up  certain  incon- 
sistencies in  his  story  with  his  brothers'  account  of  his 
movements  and  conduct  on  this  Wednesday  evening. 
We  are  entitled  to  ask  that. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  179 

James. 
Aye — entitled. 

Stephen  and  Ponting. 
Entitled. 

Elkin. 
[Ti?  James  and  Stephen.]    Yes,  and  Mr.  Mortimore  is 
-equally  entitled  to  refuse  it. 

James,  Stephen  and  Ponting. 
[Indignantly.']   Oh ! 

Thaddeus. 
But  I — I  haven't  refused.     I — I've  done  my  best 

Elkin. 
On  the  other  hand,  if  he  has  no  objection  to  her  doing 
so,  the  person  to  assist  you,  I  suggest — distressing  as  it 
may  be  to  her — is  the  wife. 

Vallance. 

[Asseniingly.']    The  wife 

[Thaddeus  pushes  aside  the  chair  which  he  is 
holding  and  comes  to  the  table. 

Elkin. 

She  ought  to  be  able  to  satisfy  you  as  to  what  time  he 
was  with  her 

Vallance. 
\To  everybody.']    By-the-bye,  has  she  ever  mentioned 
this  visit  of  her  husband's  to  Cannon  Row ? 

Ann  and  Louisa. 
Never — never 


180  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Elkin. 
Attaching  no  importance  to  it.     But  now 

Thaddeus. 
[Stretching  out  a  quivering  hand  to  them  all^    No. 
No,  no.     Don't  you — don't  you  drag  my  wife  into  this. 
I — I  won't  have  my  wife  dragged  into  this 

James. 
{In  a  blaze.']    Why  not  ? 

Stephen. 
Why  not  ? 

The  Ladies. 
\_Indignantiy.']    Ah ! 

Thaddeus. 
You — you  leave  my  wife  out  of  it  — 

James. 
\_To  Thaddeus,  furiously.']    Who   the    hell's   your 
wife ! 

Elkin  and  Vallance. 
Gentlemen — gentlemen 

Louisa. 

Who's  Phyllis ! 

Ann. 
Who's  she ! 

Rose. 
Ha! 

James  and  Stephen, 
[Derisively.']   Ha,  ha,  ha ! 


TEE  THUNDERBOLT  181 

Thaddeus. 
Anyhow,  I  do  object — I   do  object  to  your  dragging 
her  into  it — [_his  show  of  courage  flicker ing  away']  I — I  do 
object — [coming  to  the  nearer  side  of  the  table,  rather  un- 
steadily]  Mr.  Elkin — Mr.  Vallance— I— I   don't  think  I 

can  be  of  any  further  assistance  to  you  to-day 

[Vallance  shrugs  his  shoulders  at  Elkin. 

Elkin. 
\To  Thaddeus,  kindly.]  One  minute — one  minute 
more.  Mr.  Vallance  has  taken  down  your  statement 
roughly.  [7b  Vallance.]  If  you'll  read  us  your  notes, 
Mr.  Vallance,  Mr.  Mortimore  will  tell  us  whether  they 
are  substantially  correct — [to  Thaddeus]  perhaps  he  will 

€ven  be  willing  to  attach  his  name  to  them 

[^With  a  nod  of  patient  acquiescence,  Thaddeus 
sinks  into  the  middle  chair.  Vallance  pre- 
pares to  read  his  notes,  first  fnakiiig  some 
additiofts  to  the?n. 

James. 
[To  Thaddeus,  from  the  other  side  of  the  table.]   Look 
here ! 

Thaddeus. 
[Feebly.]    No — no  more  quesdons.     I — I'm  advised  I 
— I  may  refuse 

James. 
Mr.  Vallance   asked  you  just   now  about  your  con- 
science   

Thaddeus. 
I — I'm  not  going  to  answer  any  more  questions  — 

Stephen. 
{To  James.]  It  was  Mr.  Elkin 


182  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
I  don't  care  a  curse  which  it  was 

Thaddeus. 
No  more  questions 

James. 
\Leaning  across  the  table  towards  Thaddeus,  fiercely^ 
When  the  devil  did  your  conscience  begin  to  prick  you 
over  this  ?     Hey  ? 

Stephen. 
\_To  Thaddeus.]   Yes,  you've  been  in  excellent  spirits 
apparently  this  last  month— excellent  spirits. 

James. 
\Hainmering  on  the  table.']    Hey  ? 

Stephen. 
[To  Elkin  and  Vallance.]    There  was  no  sign  of 
anything  amiss  when  we  were  with  him  this  afternoon, 
gentlemen — none  whatever,  I  give  you  my  word. 

James. 
Less  than  two  hours  ago— not  a  symptom  ! 

Stephen 
\_To  James.]    He  was  gay  enough  at  the  club  dinner 
on  Tuesday  night.     It  was  remarked — commented  on. 

Louisa. 
[W/ Stephen's  elbow,  unconsciously.']  It's  Phyllis  who's 
been  ill  all  the  month,  not  Thaddeus. 

James. 
[/«  the  same  way,  with  a  hoarse  laugh.]    Ha  !     If  it  had 
been  his  precious  wife  who'd  come  to  us  and  told  us  this, 
tale 


TEE  THUNDERBOLT  183 

Stephen. 
Yes,  if  it  had  been  the  lady 

James. 

If  it  had  been \_S^ruck  by  the  idea  which  occurs  to 

him,  James  breaks  off.     Thaddeus  doesnt  stir.     James, 
after  a  pause,  thoughtfully. \    If  it  had  been 

Stephen. 
[Holding  his  breath,  to  James.]   Eh  ? 

James. 
\_Slowly  stroking  his  beard.']    One  might  have — under- 
stood it 

Elkin. 
[  Who  has  been  listening  attentively,  in  a  tone  of  polite 
interest^]    How   long    has   Mrs.    Mortimore   been   indis- 
posed ? 

James. 
[^Disturbed.']    Oh — er — a  few  weeks 

Vallance. 
[  Quietly.l    Ever  since ? 

James. 
\_lVith  a  nod.]    Aye. 

[Elkin   and   Vallance   look  at  each  other  in- 
quiringly. 

Stephen. 
{Staring  into  space.]    Ever  since — Edward — as  a  mat- 
ter of  fact 

Rose. 
[Going  to  Ann  and  Louisa.]   What's  wrong  with  her  ? 
What's  wrong  with  his  wife  ? 


184  THE   THUNDERBOLT 

Ann. 
[^Obtusely.']   She's  not  sleeping. 

Louisa. 

[Looking from  one  to  the  other."]   No — she  isn't 

[There  is  a  further  pause,  and  then  Thaddeus, 
slowly  turning  from  the  table,  rises. 

Thaddeus. 

[In  a  strange  voice,  his  hands  fumbling  at  the  buttons  of 

his  jacket^    Well,  gentlemen — whatever  my  sins  are — I 

— I  decUne  to  sit  still  and  hear  my  wife  insulted  in  this 

style.     If  it's  all  the  same  to  you,  I'll  call  round  on  Mr. 

Vallance  in  the  morning  and — and  sign  the  paper 

[While  Thaddeus  is  speaking,  Jam^s  and 
Stephen  come  forward  on  the  left,  Elkin  and 
Vallance  on  the  right.  _  The  three  women  get 
together  at  the  back  and' look  on  with  wide-open 
eyes.  The  f7iove7nent  is  made  gradually  and 
noiselessly,  so  that  when  Thaddeus  turns  to  go 
he  is  startled  at  finding  his  way  obstructed. 
After  a  time  Ponting  also  leaves  the  table, 
watching  the  proceedings,  with  a  falling  jaw, 
from  a  little  distance  on  the  right. 

Elkin. 
[Rubbing  his  chin  tneditatively,  to  Thaddeus.]   Mr. 
Mortimore,  your  wife   traveled   with  you  and  the  other 
members  of  the  family  to  Linchpool  on  the  Tuesday ? 

James. 
Aye,  she  was  with  us 

Elkin. 
[To  Thaddeus.]   She  was  in  the  railway  carriage  when 
the — when  the  discussion  arose ? 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  185 

Stephen. 
Yes,  yes 

Elkin. 
The  discussion  as  to  where  a  man's  money  goes,  in 
the  absence  of  a  will? 

Ann. 
[^From  the  other  side  of  the  table.']    Yes  — — 

Louisa. 
\_Qose  to  Ann.]   Of  course  she  was. 

Elkin. 
\_Nodding.'\  H'm.  \_To  Thaddeus.]  I — I  am  most 
anxious  not  to  pain  you  unnecessarily.  Er — the  conver- 
sation you  had  with  your  brother  Edward  at  the  bedside, 
in  reference  to  Mrs.  Thaddeus  Mortimore — when  he  said 
that  he — that  he 

James. 
[Breathing  heavily.]    He'd  taken  a  fancy  to  her 

Elkin. 
That  he  wished  to  make  her  a  present  of  jewelry — she 
was  within  hearing  during  that  talk  ? 

Thaddeus. 
\_Avoiding  everybody's  gaze,  his  hands  twitching  invol* 
untarily  at  his  side.]    She — she  may  have  been. 

Elkin. 
\_Piercingly.]    He  was  left  in  her  charge,  you  know. 

Thaddeus. 
She — she  was  moving  about  the  room  — 


186  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Elkin. 
She  would  scarcely  have  been  far  away  from  him. 

Thaddeus. 
[Moistening  his  lips  with  his  tongue.']    N-no. 

Elkin. 
And  when  he  handed  you  his  keys  and  asked  you  to 
go  down-stairs  and  open  the  safe — did  she  hear  and  wit- 
ness that  also  ? 

Thaddeus. 
She — she — very  likely. 

Elkin. 
\Raising  his  voice.]   There  was  nothing  at  all  confi- 
dential in  this  transaction  between  you  and  your  brother  ? 

Thaddeus. 
Why — why  should  there  have  been  ? 

Elkin. 
Why  should  ihtrQ  have  been?  \^Co7ning  a  step  fie arer 
to  him.]  So  that,  feeling  towards  her  as  he  did,  there 
was  no  reason  why,  if  you  hadn't  chanced  to  be  on  the 
spot — there  was  no  reason  why  he  shouldn't  have  held 
that  conversation  with  her,  and  intrusted  her  with  the 
keys. 

Thaddeus. 
She — she    was    almost    a  stranger    to    him.     He — he 
hadn't  seen  her  since  she  was  a  child 

Elkin. 
[Interrupting  him.'\   Tell  us — this  illness  of  Mrs.  Morti- 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  187 

Thaddeus. 
My — my  wife's  a  nervous,  delicate  woman — always  has 
been 

Elkin. 
[^Nodding.'\   Quite  so. 

Thaddeus. 
She — she  was  upset  at  being  alone  with  Edward  when 
he — when  he  swooned 

James. 
That  was  the  tale 

Elkin. 
\_To  Thaddeus.]    Although  you  happened  to  be  in  the 
library,  a  floor  or  two  below,  at  the  time 

Thaddeus. 
He — he  might  have  died  suddenly,  in  her  arms.     She's 
a  nervous,  sensitive  woman 

Elkin. 
l^N'odding.']    And  she's  been  unwell  ever  since.    \_lVith 
an  abrupt  change  of  mariner. '\    Mr.  Mortimore,  how  is  the 
lock  of  the  safe  opened  ? 

Thaddeus. 
Opened ? 

Elkin. 
\Sharply.'\    The  safe  in  the  library  in  Cannon  Row — 
how  do  you  open  it  ?   [Thaddeus  is  silent.']    Is  it  a  simple 
lock,  or  is  there  anything  unusual  about  it  ? 

Thaddeus. 
He — he  gave  me  directions  how  to  open  it. 


L88  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Elkin. 


Thaddeus. 
Elkin. 


Tell  us 

I— I  forget 

Forget  ? 

Thaddeus. 
It — it's  gone  from  me 

James. 
\_In    a    low    voice.']   Gentlemen,    you  couldn't   forget 
thai 

Stephen. 
[/«  the  same  way."]   You  couldn  t  forget  it 

Elkin. 

[77?  Thaddeus,  solemnly.']    Mr.   Mortimore,    are   you 

sure  that  the  conversation  at  the  bedside  didn't  take  place 

between   your  brother  and  your  wife  solely,  and  that  it 

wasn't  she  who  was  sent  down-stairs  to  fetch  the  jewelry? 

Thaddeus. 
\_Drawing  himself  up,  with  a  last  effort,]    Sure ! 

Elkin. 
Are  you  positive  that  she  didn't  open  the  safe? 

Thaddeus. 
It — it's  ridiculous 

Elkin. 
[^Quickly.]    When    you     took    her    to    Roper's,    the 
draper's,  on  the  Thursday — you  left  her  there  ? 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  189 

Thaddeus. 

Yes,  I— I  left  her 

Elkin. 
Are  you  sure  that  she  didn't  then  go  on  to  the  bridge, 
and  tear  up  the  will,  and  throw  the  pieces  into  the  river? 

Thaddeus. 
I — I  decline  to  answer  any  more  questions 

Elkin. 
[^Raising  his  voice  again.']    Were  you  in  Cannon  Row, 
sir,  on  the  night  of  June  the  nineteenth,  for  a  sifigie  mo- 
ment between  eight  o'clock  and  eleven ? 

Thaddeus. 
[^Losing   his  head   completely.']    Ah  !    Ah !    I  know — I 
know  !     You  mean  to  drag  my  wife  into  this ! 

Elkin. 
\_To  Thaddeus.]    You  were  late  in  coming  here  this 
afternoon,  Mr.  Mortimore 

Thaddeus. 
\To  Elkin,  threateningly.']    Don't  you — don't  you  dare 
t J  do  it ! 

Elkin. 
Owing,  you  say,  to  your  having  made  a  communica- 
tion to  Mrs.  Mortimore  about  this  affair 

Thaddeus. 
[^Clinging  to  the  chair  which  is  behind  him.]    You — you 
leave  my  wife  out  of  it ! 

Elkin. 
Are  you  sure  that  you  were  not  delayed  through  hav- 
ing to  receive  a  communication  from  her ? 


190  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Thaddeus. 
\Dropping  into  the  chair.']     Don't   you — drag   her — 
into  it ! 

Elkin. 
Are  you  sure  that  the  story  you  have  told  us,  substitut- 
ing yourself  for  the  principal  person  of  that  story,  is  not 
exactly  the  story  which  she  \\2iS  ]\xsx.  ioXd  you  f    [There  is 
a  pause.     Ponting^^^5 /^  Rose.]    Mr.  Vallance 

Vallance. 
Yes? 

Elkin. 
I  propose  to  see  Mrs.  Mortimore  in  this  matter,  with- 
out delay. 


Vallance. 
Elkin. 


Very  good. 

Will  you ? 

Vallance. 
Certainly. 

\_Quietly,  Vallance  returns  to  the  table  and,  seat- 
ing hitnself,  again  collects  his  papers.  Elkin 
is  following  him. 


James. 
Elkin. 


Mr.  Elkin 

[Stopping?^    Eh? 

James. 
Stealing  a  will — destroying  a  will — what  is  it  ? 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  191 

Elkin. 


What  wit? 


James. 
The  law — what's  the  law ? 

Elkin. 
[7(7  James.]    I — I'm  sorry  to  have  to  say,  sir — it's  a 
felony. 

Thaddeus. 

[  With  a  look  of  horror.']    Oh ! 

[Ann  and  Louisa  come  to  James  and  Stephen 
hurriedly.  Elkin  sits  beside  Vallance,  and, 
picking  up  their  bags  from  the  floor,  they  put 
away  their  papers. 

James. 
\Standing  over  Thaddeus.]   Well !    Are  yer  proud  of 
her  now  ? 

Stephen. 
This  is  what  his  marriage  has  ended  in ! 

Louisa. 
I'm  not  in  the  least  surprised. 

Ann. 
Old  Burdock's  daughter ! 

Rose. 
\From  the  other  side  of  the  table.'\   Thank  heaven,  my 
name  isn't  Mortimore  ! 

Thaddeus. 
\Leaping  to  his  feet  in  a  frenzy.]    Don't  you  touch  her ! 
Don't  any  of  you  touch  her  !     Don't  you  harm  a  hair  of 
her  head !    [To  the  group  on  the  left.]    You've  helped  to 


192  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

bring  this  on  her!  You've  helped  to  make  her  life  unen- 
durable !  You've  helped  to  bring  her  to  this!  She's 
been  a  good  wife  to  me.  Oh,  my  God,  let  me  get  her 
away!  \lurning  towards  the  door.'\  Mr.  Elkin — Mr. 
Vallance — do  let  me  get  her  away  !  Don't  you  harm  a 
hair  of  her  head  !  Don't  you  touch  her  !  [At  the  door.l 
She's  been  a  good  wife  to  me!  \Opening  the  door  and 
disappearing.']    She's  been  a  good  wife  to  me ! 

James. 
\_Moving  over  to  the  right,  shouting  o/'/i^^'Thaddeus.] 
Been  a  good  wife  to  you,  has  she  ! 

Stephen. 
\_Also  7noving  to  the  right.]   A  disgrace — a  disgrace  to 
the  family  ! 

Louisa. 
[FoHowing  Stephen.]    I  always  said  so — I  said  so  till 
I  was  tired 

James. 
We've  helped  to  bring  her  to  this ! 

Ann. 
{Sitting  in  a  chair  on  the  nearer  side  of  the  dining-tabie.'] 
A  vile  creature  ! 

Ponting, 
{Coming  forward  on  the  left  with  ROSE.J    Damn  the 
woman  !     Damn   the  woman !     My  position   is  a  cruel 
one 

Stephen. 
{Raising  his  arms  as  he  paces  the  room  on  the  right!] 
Here's  a  triumph  for  Hammond  ! 


THE   THUNDERBOLT  193 

James. 
[  To  PONTING,  contemptuously.']    Your  position ! 

Louisa. 
Nellie  Robson's  got  the  better  of  me  now. 

PONTING. 

[To  James.]    I'm  landed  with  an  enormous  house  in 
Carlos  Place — my  builders  are  in  it 

Rose. 
[Pacing  the  room  on  the  kft.']    Oh,  we're  in  a  shocking 
scrape  !     We're  up  to  our  necks ! 

James. 
[Approaching  Ponting.]    D'ye  think  you're  the  only 
sufferer ! 

Stephen. 
[Wiidfy.'\   A  triumph  for  Hammond!     A  triumph  for 
Hammond ! 

James. 
[To  Ponting.]    I've  bought  all  that  dirt  at  the  bottom 
of  Gordon  Street — acres  of  it ! 

Ponting. 

[Passing  him   and  walking  away  to  the  right.]    That's 
your  business. 

Stephen. 
[Now,  with  Louisa,  at  the  further  side  of  the  dining- 
tabled]    Hammond  and  his  filthy  rag  ! 

James. 
[Going    after  Ponting,  in    a  fury.]   Aye,    it   is  my 
business 


194  THE  THUNDERBOLT 


PONTING. 


[Turning  upon  him  viciously. '\    I  wish  to  God,  sir,  I'd 
never  seen  or  heard  of  you,  or  your  family. 

Rose. 
\Coming forward. '\    Oh,  Toby,  don't ! 

James. 
\To  PoNTiNG.]    You  wish  that,  do  yer ! 

Ann. 
\_Rising  and  putting  herself  between  James  and  PONT- 
ING.]   James ! 

Stephen. 
[Shaking  his  fists  in  the  air.'\    Blast  Hammond  and  his 
filthy  rag. 

James. 
\To  PONTING.]   You  patronizing  httle  pauper ! 

Rose. 
[To  James.]    Don't  you  speak  to  my  husband  like 
that ! 

PONTING. 

You're  a  pack  of  low,  common  people ! 

Rose. 
[Going  to  PoNTiNG.]    He's  the  only  gentleman  among 
you. 

James. 
The  only  gentleman  among  us ! 

Stephen. 
[Coming  forward,  with  Louisa,  on  the  left.']   The  only 
gentleman 1 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  195 

James. 
We  could  have  done  without  such  a  gentleman  in  our 
family — [to  Ann,  who  is  forcing  him,  coax ingly,  towards 
the  left]  hey,  mother? 

Stephen. 
[Advancing  to  Ponting,  still  followed  by  Louisa.]    Ex- 
ceedingly well — exceedingly  well 

Louisa. 
\Taking  Stephen's  arm.]    Don't  lower  yourself ! 

James. 
[C'z/^r  Ann's  shoulder.]    The  Colonel  never  came  near 
us  the  other  day  till  he  saw  a  chance  o'  picking  up  the 
pieces ! 

Stephen. 
Nor  Rose  either — neither  of  them  did  ! 

James. 
It's  six  o'  one  and  half  a  dozen  o'  the  other ! 

Rose. 
[To    James    and  Stephen.]     Oh,    you    cads,    you 
boys ! 

James. 
[Mockingly. \    Didn't  they  bustle  down  to  Linchpool  in 
a  hurry  then  !     Ha,  ha,  ha  ! 

Stephen. 
[  Waving  his  hand  in  Ponting' s/c^cif.]   This  serves  you 
right,  Colonel  ;  this  serves  you  right. 

Rose. 
[Leading   Ponting   towards  the  door.]    Don't   notice 
them — don't  notice  them 


196  THE   THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
[^Walking  about  on  the  left,  to  Ann.]   I'm  in  a  mess» 
mother  ;  I'm  in  a  dreadful  mess  ! 

Stephen. 
\_Sinkmg  into  a  chair  by  the  tea-tab le.^    On  I  go  at  the 
broken-down  rat-hole  in  King  Street ;  on  I  go  with  my 

worn-out  old  plant ! 

\0n  getting  to  the  door,  PONTING  discovers  that 
ELkin  and  Vallance  have  taken  their  de- 
parture. He  returns,  with  Rose,  to  the  further 
side  oj  the  dining-table. 

Ann. 
\To  James.]    You  must  get  rid  of  your  contract,  James. 

James. 
Who'll  take  it — who'll  take  it ! 

Stephen. 
I've  always  been  behind  the  times 

Louisa. 
Nelly  will  laugh  her  teeth  out  of  her  head 

Ponting. 
\To  James  and  Stephen,  trying  to  attract  their  attert' 
tion.~\    Mortimore — Mortimore 

Ann. 
\_To  James.]    It's  splendid  land,  isn't  it  ? 

James. 
Nobody's  been  ass  enough  to  touch  it  but  me ! 

Stephen. 
\Rocking  himself  to  and  fro. "l   Always  behind  the  times 
— no  need  to  tell  me  that 


THE   THUNDERBOLT  197. 

PONTING. 

\To  James.]    Mortimore 

James. 
[  To  PoNTiNG.]    What  ? 

PONTING. 

\Poiniing  to  the  empty  chairs.']   They've  gone 

James. 
\_Sobering  down.]    Hooked  it 

Stephen. 
{Looking  round.]   Gone ? 

James. 
Elkin 

Stephen. 
\_Weakly.]    And  Vallance 

James. 
They  might  have  had  the  common  civility 

PONTING. 

\Co7ning  forward  slowly  and  dejectedly i\  They've  gone 
to  that  woman 

Rose. 
\^At  the  further  side  of  the  table.]    I  hope  they  send  her 

to  jail — the  trull — the  baggage ! 

[Ann  and  l^omsA  Join  Rose. 

PONTING. 

The  whole  business  will  be  settled  between  'em  in  ten 
minutes — the  whole  business 


198  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

James. 
[^Coming  to  Ponting.]    Aye,  the  whole  concern. 

Stephen. 
[  Who  has  risen,  holding  his  head.']   Oh,  it's  awful  ? 

Ponting. 
\_Laying  a  hand  on  James  and  Stephen  who  are  on 
either  side  of  him.]    My  friends,  don't  let  us  disagree — 
we're  all  in  the  same  boat 

James. 
[Grimiy,  looking  into  space.]    Aye,  they'll  be  talking  it 
over  nicely 

Ponting. 
Let  us  stick  to  each  other.     Aren't  we  throwing  up  the 
sponge  prematurely ? 

James. 
{^Noi  heeding  him.]   Tad  and  his  wife  and  the  lawyers 
• — ha,  ha ! 

Stephen. 
And  that  girl 

James. 
[Nodding.]   The  young  lady. 

Ponting. 
What  girl  ? 

Stephen. 
Miss  Thornhill. 

Ponting. 
Thornhill ? 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  199 

James. 
She's  staying  with  'em. 

PONTING. 

She  is ! 

Rose. 
\  Coming  forward    on    the    left.']    Staying    with    the 
Tads ? 

PONTING. 

In  their  house  !    Elkin  and  Vallance  will  find  her  there ! 

James. 
\_Nodding.'\   Aye. 

PONTING. 

[  Violently.']    It's  a  conspiracy ? 

James. 
Conspiracy ? 

PONTING. 

I  see  it !  The  Thornhill  girl's  in  it!  She's  at  the  bot- 
tom of  it !  \_Gotng  to  Rose  as  Ann  and  Louisa  come  for- 
ward on  the  left.'\  They're  cheating  us— they're  cheating 
us.  I  tell  you  we  ought  to  be  present.  They're  robbing 
us  behind  our  backs 

Stephen. 
[Looking  at  James.]   Jim ? 

James. 
[Shaking his  head.]    No,  it's  no  conspiracy  — • 

Pont  I  NO. 
It  is !   They're  robbing  us ! 


200  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Stephen. 
[7b  James.]   Still,  I— I  really  think 

PONTING. 

Behind  our  backs  ! 

The  Ladies. 
Yes — yes — yes 

James. 
\After  apause,  quietly,  stroking  his  beard."]    By  George, 

we'll  go  down ! 

{^Instantly  they  all  make  for  the  door. 

Stephen. 
We'll  be  there  as  soon  as  Elkin 

PONTING. 

A  foul  conspiracy ! 

Ann. 
\In  the  rear."]   Wait  till  I  put  on  my  hat  — 

Rose. 
Jim,  you  follow  with  Ann. 

PONTING. 

[To  Stephen.]   We'll  go  on  ahead. 

Stephen. 
Yes,  we'll  go  first. 

Louisa. 
I'm  ready. 

James. 
No,  no  ;  we'll  all  go  together. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  201 

PONTING. 

Robbing  us  behind  our  backs ! 

James. 
Look  sharp,  mother  ! 

The  Others. 

Be  quick — be  quick — be  quick ! 

[Seising  Ann  and  pushing  her  before  them,  they 
struggle  through  the  doorway. 


END  OF  THE  THIRD  ACT 


THE  FOURTH  ACT 

The  scene  is  the  same,  in  every  respect,  as  that  of  the 
Second  Jet, 

Vallance  is  seated  at  the  writing-table  by  the  bay-window y 
reading  aloud  from  a  written  paper,  Phyllis,  in  deep 
abasementy  is  upon  the  settee  by  the  piano,  and  Thad- 
DEUS  is  standing  by  her,  holding  her  left  hand  in  both  of 
his.  On  the  left  of  the  table  at  the  end  of  the  piano 
sits  Helen,  pale,  calm,  and  erect,  and  opposite  to  her,  in 
the  chair  on  the  other  side  of  the  table,  is  Elkin.  Pont- 
ING  is  sitting  in  the  bay-window,  Stephen  is  standing 
upon  the  hearth-rug,  and  the  rest  of  the  **  family''  are 
seated  about  the  room — all  looking  very  humble  and 
downcast.  Ann  and  Louisa  are  upon  the  settee  on  the 
right.  Rose  is  in  the  armchair  on  the  nearer  side  of  the 
fireplace,  James  on  the  ottoman.  Rose,  Ann,  and 
Louisa  are  in  their  outdoor  things, 

Vallance. 
\E.eaditig.'\  "  It  was  broad  daylight  before  my  hus- 
band and  I  got  back  to  our  lodgings.  The  document 
was  then  in  a  pocket  I  was  wearing  under  my  dress. 
Before  going  to  bed  !  hid  the  pocket  in  a  drawer.  At 
about  eleven  o'clock  on  the  same  morning  my  husband 
took  me  to  Roper's,  the  draper's,  in  Ford  Street,  and  left 
me  there.  After  my  measurements  were  taken  I  went 
up  Ford  Street  and  on  to  the  bridge.  I  then  tore  up 
both  the  paper  and  the  envelope  and  dropped  the  pieces 
into  the  water." 

202 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  203 

Elkin. 

l^Halfiuming  to  Phyllis.]    You  declare  that  that  is 
correct  in  every  particular,  Mrs.  jMortimore  ? 

[Phyllis  bursts  into  a  paroxysm  of  tears, 

Thaddeus. 
[  To  Phyllis,  as  if  comfortmg  a  child.'\   All  right,  dear ; 
all  right.     I'm  with  you — I'm  with  you.    {She  sobs  help' 
lessly7\   Tell  Mr.  Elkin — tell  him — is  that  correct  ? 

Phyllis. 
[  Through  her  sobs.'\  Yes. 

Elkin. 
{To  Phyllis.]   You've  nothing  further  to  say  ? 

{Her  sobbing  continues, 

Thaddeus. 
{To  Phyllis.]    Have  you  anything  more  to  say,  dear? 
{Encouragingly ,  as  she  tries  to  speak. '\    I'm  here,  dear — 
I'm  with  you.     Is  there  anything — anything  more ? 

Phyllis. 
Only — only  that  I  beg  Miss  Thornhill's  pardon.     I  beg 
her  pardon.     Oh,  I  beg  her  pardon. 

[Elkin  looks  at  Helen,  who,  however,  makes  no 
response. 

Thaddeus. 
{To  Phyllis,  glancing  at  the  others.']   And — and 

Phyllis. 
And — and  Ann  and  Jim — and  Stephen — and  Lou — ana 
Rose  and  Colonel  Ponting — I  beg  their  pardon — I  beg 
their  pardon. 

{She  sinks  back  upon  the  settee,  and  her  fit  of  weeP' 
ing gradually  exhausts  itself. 


204  THE    THUNDERBOLT 

Thaddeus. 
And  I — and  1,  Mr.  Elkin — I  wish  to  offer  my  apologies 
— my  humble  apologies — to  you  and  Mr.  Valiance — and 
to  everybody — for  what  took  place  this  afternoon  in  my 
brother's  dining-room. 

Elkin. 
[^Kindly."]   Perhaps  it  isn't  necessary 

Thaddeus. 
Perhaps  not — but  it's  on  my  mind.  {To  Elkin  and 
Vallance.]  I  assure  you  and  Mr.  Valiance — [to  the 
others]  and  I  assure  every  member  of  my  family — that 
when  I  went  away  from  here  I  had  no  intention  of  invent- 
ing the  story  I  attempted  to  tell  you  at  "  Ivanhoe."  it 
came  into  my  head  suddenly — quite  suddenly — on  my 
way  to  Clay  brook  Road — almost- at  the  gate  of  the  house. 
I  must  have  been  mad  to  think  I  could  succeed  in  impos- 
ing on  you  all.  I  beheve  I  was  mad,  gentlemen ;  and 
that's  my  excuse,  and  I — I  hope  you'll  accept  it. 

Elkin. 
Speaking  for  myself,  I  accept  it  freely. 

Vallance. 
And  I. 

Thaddeus. 
Thank  you — thank  you. 

{He  looks  at  the  others  wistfully,  but  they  are  all 
staring  at  the  carpet,  and  they,  too,  make  no 
response.  Then  he  seats  himself  beside  Phyllis 
and  again  takes  her  hand. 

Elkin. 

\After  apause.l    Well,  Mr.  Vallance [Vallance 

rises,  the  written  paper  in  his  hand,  and  comes  forward 


THE   THUNDERBOLT  205 

on  the  ieft.~\  I  think — \_  glancing  over  his  shoulder  at 
Phyllis]  I  think  that  this  lady  makes  it  perfectly  clear 
to  any  reasonable  person  that  the  document  which  she 
abstracted  from  the  safe  in  Cannon  Row,  and  subse- 
quently destroyed,  was  the  late  Mr.  Edward  Mortimore's 
will,  and  that  Miss  Thornhill  was  the  universal  legatee 
under  it,  and  was  named  as  the  sole  executrix.  [Val- 
LANCE  seats  himself  in  the  chair  on  the  extreme  left.~\  As 
I  said  in  Mr.  James  Mortimore's  house,  the  advice  I  shall 
give  to  Miss  Thornhill  is  that  she  applies  to  the  Court  for 
probate  of  the  substance  and  effect  of  this  will. 

Vallance. 
Upon  an  affidavit  by  Mrs.  Thaddeus  Mortimore ? 

Elkin. 
An  affidavit  disclosing  what  she  has  done  and  verifying 
a  statement  of  the  contents  of  the  will. 

Vallance. 
And  how,  may  I  ask,  are  you  going  to  get  over  your 
great  difficulty  ? 

Elkin. 

My  great  difficulty ? 

Vallance. 
The  fact  that  Mrs.  Thaddeus  Mortimore  is  unable  to 
swear  that  the  will  was  duly  witnessed. 

Ponting. 

Ah  !  [^Rising  and  coming  forward,  but  discreetly  keep- 
ing behind  Helen,]  That  seems  to  me  to  be  insuperable 
— insuperable.    \Anxiously.'\    Eh,  Mr.  Vallance  ? 

Stephen. 
\Advancing  a  step  or  two."]   An  obstacle  which  cannot 
be  got  over. 


206  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

PONTING. 

\_Eyeing  Hele^  furitve/y.']  It — ah — may  appear  rather 
ungracious  to  Miss  Thornhill — a  young  lady  we  hold  in 
the  highest  esteem — and  to  whom  I  express  regret  for  any 
hasty  word  I  may  have  used  on  arriving  here — unre- 
served regret — [Helen's  eyes  flash,  and  her  shoulders 
contract ;  otherwise  she  makes  no  acknowledgtnenf]  it  may 
appear  ungracious  to  Miss  Thornhill  to  discuss  this  point 
in  her  presence  ;  {^pulling  at  his  tnoustache']  but  she  will 
be  the  first  to  recognize  that  there  are  many — ah — inter- 
ests at  stake. 

Stephen. 

Many  interests — many  interests 

PONTING. 

And  where  so  many  interests  are  involved,  one  mustn't 
— ah — allow  oneself  to  be  swayed  by  anything  like  senti- 
ment. 

Stephen. 

\^At  the  round  tabiej]  In  justice,  one  oughtnt  to  be  sen- 
timental. 

PONTING. 

One  daren't  be  sentimental. 

Louisa. 
\_Meekly,  raising  her  head ^   I  always  maintain 

Stephen. 
[7b  Louisa.]   Yes,  yes,  yes. 

Louisa. 
There  are  two  sides 


THE  THUNDEBBOLT  207 

Stephen. 
Yes,  yes. 

Elkin. 
[^Ignoring  the  tnterruption.'\   Mrs.  Thaddeus  Mortimore 
is  prepared  to  swear,  Mr.  Vallance,  that  she  believes  there 
were  other  signatures  besides  the  signature  of  the  late  Mr. 
Mortimore. 

Vallance. 
But    she   has   no   recollection   of  the   names  of  wit- 
nesses  


None  whatever. 
Not  the  faintest. 


PONTING. 

Stephen. 


Vallance. 
Nor  as  to  whether  there  was  an  attestation  clause  at 
all. 

PONTING. 

Her  memory  is  an  utter  blank  as  to  that. 

Stephen. 
An  utter  blank. 

\As  Ponting  and  Stephen  perk  up,  there  is  a 
rise  in  the  spirits  of  the  ladies  at  the  fireplace. 
Rose  twists  her  chair  round  to  face  the  men. 
James  doesn'  t  stir. 

Elkin. 
Notwithstanding  that,  I  can't  help  considering  it  rea- 
sonably probable   that,  in   the  circumstances,  the   Court 
would  presume  the  will  to  have  been  made  in  due  form. 


208  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

PONTING. 

\_Walking  about  agitatedly. '\    I  differ. 

Stephen. 
\Walking  aboutr^    So  do  I. 

PONTING. 

I    don't    pretend   to    a    profound   knowledge   of  the 
law 

Stephen. 
As  a  mere  layman,  /consider  it  extremely  ?;«probable 
— extremely  /wprobable. 

Vallance. 
\To  Stephen  and  Ponting.]    Well,  gentlemen,  there  I 
am  inclined  to  agree  with  you 

Ponting. 
\_PuUing  himself  up :\   Ah  ! 

Stephen. 
\_Returning  to  the  round  table.  "^    Ah  ! 

Vallance. 
/  think  it  doubtful  whether,  on  the  evidence  of  Mrs. 
Thaddeus  Mortimore,  the  will  could  be  upheld. 

Ponting. 
Exactly.    \To  everybody 7\    You've  only  to  look  at  the 
thing  in  the  light  of  common  sense 

Stephen. 
{Argument ativ ely ,  rapping  the  table. '\   A  will  exists  or 
it  does  not  exist 

Ponting. 
If  it  ever  existed,  and  has  been  destroyed 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  209 

Stephen. 
It  must  be  shown  that  it  was  a  complete  will 

PONTING. 

Shown  beyond  dispute, 

Stephen. 
Complete  down  to  the  smallest  detail. 

Vallance. 
[^Continuing.']    At  the  same  time,  in  my  opinion,  the 
facts  do  not  warrant  the  making  of  an  affidavit  that  the 
late  Mr.  Mortimore  died  intestate. 

PONTING. 

[Stiffly.']   Indeed? 

Stephen. 
[Depressed.]   Really? 

Vallance. 
And  the  question  of  whether  or  not  he  left  a  duly  ex- 
ecuted will  is  clearly  one  for  the  Court  to  decide. 

Elkin. 
Quite  so — quite  so. 

Vallance. 
I  advise,  therefore,  that,  to  get  the  question  determined, 
the  next-of-kin  should  consent  to  the  course  of  procedure 
suggested  by  Mr.  Elkin. 

Elkin. 
I  am  assuming  their  consent. 

Ponting. 
[Blustering.]    And  supposing   the  next-of-kin   do  not 
consent,  Mr.  Vallance ? 


210  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Stephen. 
Supposing  we  do  not  consent ? 

PONTING. 

Supposing  we  are  convinced — convinced — that  the 
late  Mr.  Mortimore  died  without  leaving  a  properly  ex- 
ecuted will? 

Elkin. 

Then  the  application,  instead  of  being  by  motion  to 
the  judge  in  Court,  must  take  the  form  of  an  action  by 
writ.  \To  Vallance.]  In  any  case,  perhaps  it  should 
do  so. 

[There  is  a  pause.  Stephen  wanders  disconso- 
lately to  the  window  on  the  tight  and  stands 
gazing  iftto  the  garden.  Ponting  leans  his  eh 
bows  on  the  piano  and  stares  at  vacancy. 

Elkin. 

vatch7\ 

[Vallance  rises. 


[To  Helen,  looking   at  his  watch.']    Well,  my  dear 
Miss  Thornhill ? 


Helen. 

Wait — wait  a  moment 

\^The  sound  of  Helen's  voice  turns  everybody » 
except  James,  Thaddeus,  and  Phyllis,  in 
her  direction. 

Elkin. 
\To  Helen.]   Eh? 

Helen. 
Wait  a  moment,  please.     There  is  something  I  want  to 
be  told — there's  something  I  want  to  be  told  plainly. 

Elkin. 
What? 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  211 

Helen. 
Mrs.  Thaddeus  Mortimore 

Elkin. 
Yes? 

Helen. 
[Slowly.']    I  want  to  know  whether  it  is  necessary,  what- 
ever proceedings  are  taken  on  my  behalf — whether  it  is 
necessary  that  she  should  be  publicly  disgraced.     I  want 
to  know  that. 

Elkin. 
Whichever  course  is  adopted— motion  to  the  judge  or 
action  by  writ — Mrs.  Thaddeus  Mortimore' s  act  must  be 
disclosed  in  open  Court. 

Helen. 
There  are  no  means  of  avoiding  it  ? 

Elkin. 

None. 

Helen. 
And   the   offence  she  has  committed  is — felony,  you 
say? 

[Elkin  inclmes  his  head.  Again  there  is  silence, 
during  which  Helen  sits  with  knitted  brows, 
and  then  James  rouses  himself  and  looks  up. 

James. 
[To  Elkin.]   What's  the— what's  the  penalty  ? 

Elkin. 
\Turning  to  him.'\   The — the  penalty  ? 

James. 
The  legal  punishment. 


212  THE   THUNDERBOLT 

Elkin. 

I  think — another  occasion 

{Suddenly  Thaddeus  and  Phyllis  rise  together, 
he  with  an  arm  round  her,  supporting  her, 
and  they  stand  side  by  side  like  criminals  in  the 
dock. 

Thaddeus. 
\^Quickly.'\    No,  no — now 

Phyllis. 
\Faintly.'\   Yes — now 

Thaddeus. 
\To  Elkin  and  Vallance.]    We — we  should  like  to 
know  the  worst,  gentlemen.     I — I  had  the  idea  from  the 
first  that  it  was  a  serious  offence — but  hardly  so  seri- 
ous  

Elkin. 
[  With  a  wave  of  the  hand.']    By  and  by 

Thaddeus. 
Oh,  you  needn't  hesitate,  Mr.  Elkin.  [Z>mwm^ Phyllis 
closer  to  him.]    We — we  shall  go  through  with  it.     We 
shall  go  through  with  it  to  the  end.    \A pause.]    Impris- 
onment, sir? 

Elkin. 
[^Gravely.]  A  person  convicted  of  stealing  or  destroy- 
ing a  will  for  a  fraudulent  purpose  is  hable  under  the 
statute  to  varying  terms  of  penal  servitude,  or  to  impris- 
onment with  or  without  hard  labor.  In  this  instance,  we 
should  be  justified,  I  am  sure,  in  hoping  for  a  consider- 
able amount  of  leniency. 

[Thaddeus  and  Phyllis  slowly  look  at  one  an- 
other with  expressionless  faces.  James  rises 
and   7noves   away   to   the  fireplace   where   he 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  213 

stands  looking  down  upon  the  flowers  in  the 
grate.  Vallance  goes  to  the  writing-table 
a7id puts  the  written  paper  into  his  bag.  Elkin 
rises,  takes  up  his  bag  from  the  table  at  the 
end  of  the  piano,  and  is  fol/owi?ig  Vallance. 
As  he  passes  Helen,  she  lays  her  hand  upon 
his  arm. 


Helen. 
Elkin. 


Mr.  Elkin 

{Stopping.^    Yes? 

Helen. 
Oh,  but  this  is  impossible. 

Elkin. 
Impossible  ? 

Helen. 
Quite  impossible.     I  couldn't  be  a  party — please  under- 
stand me — I   refuse  to  be  a  party — to  any  steps  which 
would  bring  ruin  on  Mrs.  Mortimore. 

Elkin. 
\PoUtely^    You  refuse ? 

Helen. 
Absolutely.     At  any  cost — at  any  cost  to  me — we  must 
all  unite  in  sparing  her  and  her  husband  and  children. 

Elkin. 
My  dear  young  lady,  I  join  you  heartily  in  your  desire 
not  to  bring  suffering  upon  innocent  people.     But  if  you 
dechne  to  take  proceedings 

Helen. 
There  is  no  "  if"  in  the  matter 


214  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Elkin. 
If  you  decline  to  take  proceedings,  there  is  a  deadlock. 

Helen. 
A  deadlock  ? 

Elkin. 
As  Mr.  Vallance  tells  us,  it's  out  of  the  question  that 
the  next-of-kin  should  now  apply  for  Letters  of  Adminis- 
tration in  the  usual  way. 

Helen. 
Why  ?  I  don't  see  why — I  can't  see  why. 

Elkin. 
{^Pointing-  to  James  and  Stephen.]    You  don't  see  why 
neither  of  these  gentlemen  can  make  an  affidavit  that 
Mr.  Edward  Mortimore  died  intestate  ! 

Helen. 
[  With  a  77iovement  of  the  head  towards  Phyllis.]   She 
has  no  remembrance  of  a — what  is  it  called ? 

PONTING. 

\Eagerly^  Attestation  clause. 

Stephen. 
\Coming  to  the  head  of  the  piano. '\   Attestation  clause. 

Helen. 
\Haughiiiy,  without  turning.']    Thank  you.   [TcjElkin.] 
Only  the  vaguest  notion  that  there  were  witnesses. 

PONTING. 

The  vaguest  notion. 


TEE  THUNDERBOLT  215 

Stephen. 
The  haziest. 

Elkin. 
Her  memory  is  uncertain  there.    [77?  Helen.]    But  you 
\ino\\'—you  know,  Miss  Thornhill — as  we  all  know — that 
it  was  your  father's  will  that  was  found  in  the  safe  at 
Cannon  Row  and  destroyed. 

Helen. 
\_Looking  up  at  him,  gripping  the  aryns  of  her  chairJ^ 
Yes,  of  course  I  know  it.  Thank  God  I  know  it !  I'm 
happy  in  knowing  it.  I  know  he  didn't  forget  me  ;  I 
know  I  was  all  to  him  that  I  imagined  myself  to  be.  And 
it's  because  I've  come  to  know  this  at  last — through  her 
— that  I  can  afford  to  be  a  little  generous  to  her.  Oh, 
please  don't  think  that  I  want  to  introduce  sentimentality 
into  this  affair — \_with  a  contemptuous  glance  at  PONTING 
and  Stephen]  any  more  than  Colonel  Pouting  does — or 
Mr.  Stephen  Mortimore.  Mrs.  Thaddeus  did  a  cruel 
thing  when  she  destroyed  that  will.  It's  no  excuse  for 
her  to  say  that  she  wasn't  aware  of  my  existence.  She 
was  defrauding  so7iie  woman  ;  and,  as  it  happened — I  own 
it  now  ! — defrauding  that  woman,  not  only  of  money,  but 
of  what  is  more  valuable  than  money — of  peace  of  mind, 
contentment,  belief  in  one  who  could  never  speak,  never 
explain,  never  defend  himself.  However,  she  has  made 
the  best  reparation  it  is  in  her  power  to  make — and  she 
has  gone  through  a  bad  time — and  I  forgive  her. 
[Phyllis  releases  herself  from  Thaddeus  and  drops  down 
upon  the  settee.  He  sits  upon  the  ottotnan,  burying  his 
face  in  his  hands.  Helen  rises,  struggling  to  keep  back 
her  tears,  and  turns  to  the  door.']  I— T 11  go  up-stairs — if 
you'll  allow  me 

Elkin. 
[Between  her  and  the  door.]    Miss  Thornhill,  you  put 
us  m  a  position  of  great  difficulty 


216  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Helen. 
[^Impatiently.']  I  say  again,  I  don't  see  why.  Where 
is  the  difficulty  .?  [Tt?  Vallance  ««^Elkin.]  If  there's 
a  difficulty,  it's  you  gentlemen  who  are  raising  it.  Let 
the  affair  go  on  as  it  was  going  on.  [Turnifig to  James.] 
Mr.  Mortimore  !  [To  Elkin.]  I  say,  let  Mr.  James  Mor- 
timore  and  the  others  administer  the  estate  as  they  in- 
tended to  do.  [To  James,  who  has  left  the  fireplace  and 
slowly  advanced  to  her,]    Mr.  Mortimore 

Elkin. 
[To  Helen.]   Then  you  would  have  Mr.  James  Morti- 
more deliberately  swear  that  he  believes  his  late  brother 
died  without  leaving  a  will  ? 

Helen. 
Certainly,  if  necessary.     Who  would  be  hurt  by  it  ? 
Elkin. 

[Pursing  his  lips.]    Miss  Thornhill 

Helen. 
[Hotly.]    Why,  which  do  you  think  would  be  the  more 
acceptable  to  the  Almighty — that  I  should  send  this  poor 
lady  to  prison,  or  that  Mr.   James  should  take  a  false 
oath  ? 

Elkin. 
H'm  !    I  won't  attempt  to  follow  you  quite  so  far.     But 
even  then  a  most  important  point  would  remain  to  be 
settled. 

Helen. 

Even  then ? 

Elkin. 
Assuming  that  Mr.  James  Mortimore  did  make  this 
affidavit— that  he  were  permitted  to  make  such  an  affi- 
davit   


THE  THUNDERBOLT  217 

Helen. 
Yes? 

Elkin. 
What  about  the  disposition  of  the  estate  ? 

Helen. 
[^Nodding,  slowly  and  thoughtfully r[   The — the  disposi- 
tion of  the  estate 

[Stephen  steals  over  to  Ponting,  and  Rose,  Ann, 
a7id  Louisa  quietly  rise  and  gather  together. 
They  all  listeti  with  painful  interest. 

Elkin. 

\_To  Helen.]    Morally,  at  all  events,  the  whole  of  the 
late  Mr.  Mortimore's  estate  belongs  to  you. 

Helen. 
\Simply.']    It  was   his  intention   that  it  should  do  so. 
\_Looking  <z/  James,  as  if  inviting  him  to  speak. ~\  Well ? 

James. 
\_Stroking  his  beard.']  Look  here,  Miss  Thornhill. 
\Poi7iting  to  the  chair  07i  the  extre7ne  left.]  Sit  down  a 
minute.  \She  sits.  James  also  seats  hi?nself,  facing  her, 
at  the  right  of  the  table  at  the  end  of  the  piano.  Val- 
lance  Joins  Elkin  and  they  stand  near  Helen,  occa- 
sionally exchanging  remarks  with  each  other.]  Look  here. 
\In  a  deep,  gruff  voice.]  There  is  no  doubt  that  my 
Brother  Ned's  money  rightfully  belongs  to  you. 

Ponting. 
\^Nervously.]    Mortimore 

James. 
\Turning  upon  him.]    You  leave  us  alone.     Don't  you 
interfere.    [  To  Helen.]  I've  no  more  doubt  about  it.  Miss 


218  THE   THUNDERBOLT 

Thornhill,  than  that  I'm  sitting  here.  Very  good.  Say 
I  make  the  affidavit,  and  that  we — the  family — obtain 
Letters  of  Administration.  What  then?  The  money 
comes  to  us.  Still — it's  yours.  We  get  hold  of  it,  but 
it's  yours.  Now  !  What  if  we  offer  to  throw  the  whole 
lot,  so  to  speak,  into  your  lap? 

Stephen. 
[^Biting  h is  nails.']   Jim 

James. 
[To   Stephen.]    Don't   you   interfere.     [To  Helen.] 
I  repeat,  what  if  we  offer  to  throw  the  whole  lot  into  your 
lap  ?    [Leaning  forward,   very  earnestly. '\    Miss   Thorn- 
hill 

PONTING. 

May  I ? 

James. 

[To    PoNTiNG.]    If    you    can't    be    silent !     \To 

Helen.]  Miss  Thornhill,  we're  poor,  we  Mortimores. 
I  won't  say  anything  about  Rose — [with  a  sneer]  it 
wouldn't  be  polite  to  the  Colonel  ;  nor  Tad — you  see 
what  he's  come  to.  But  Stephen  and  me — take  our  case. 
[To  Elkin  and  Vallance.]  Mr.  Vallance — Mr.  Elkin 
— this  is  sacred.  [To  Helen.]  My  dear,  we're  promi- 
nent men  in  the  town,  both  of  us  ;  we're  looked  up  to  as 
being  fairly  warm  and  comfortable  ;  but  in  reality  we're 
not  much  better  off  than  the  others.  My  trade's  being 
cut  into  on  all  sides  ;  Stephen's  business  has  run  to  seed  ; 
we've  no  capital ;  we've  never  had  any  capital.  What 
we  might  have  saved  has  been  spent  on  educating  our 
children,  and  keeping  up  appearances  ;  and  when  the 
time  comes  for  us  to  be  knocked  out,  there'll  be  precious 
little — bar  a  stroke  of  luck — precious  little  for  us  to  end 
our  days  on.     So  this  is  a  terrible  disappointment  to  us — 


THE   THUNDERBOLT  219 

an  awful  disappointment.  Aye,  the  money's  yours — it's 
yours — but — [opening  his  hands']  what  are  you  going  to 
do  for  the  family  ? 

[  There  is  apause.      The  Pontings,  Stephen,  Ann 
and  Louisa  draw  a  little  neare  . 

Helen. 

tTo  James.]   Well — since  you  put  it  in  this  way — I'll 
you  what  I'll  do.    [^Another  pause.]   I'll  share  with 
you  all. 

James. 
[7<?  thg  others.]   You  leave  us  alone;  you  leave  us 
alone.    [To  Helen.]   Share  and  share  alike  ? 

Helen. 
[  Thinking.]   Share  and  share  alike — after  discharging 
my  obligations. 

James. 
Obligations  ? 

Ponting  and  Stephen. 
Obligations  ? 

Helen. 
After  carrying  out  my  father's  instructions  with  regard 
to  his  old  servants. 

James. 
[Nodding.]   Oh,  aye. 

Ponting. 
[Walking  about  excitedly.]   That's  a  small  matter. 

Stephen. 
[Also  walking  about.]   A  trifle— a  trifle  — 


220  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

PONTING. 

Then  what  it   amounts  to  is  this — the  estate  will  bt 
divided  into  five  parts  instead  of  four. 

Stephen. 
Five  instead  of  four — obviously. 

Helen. 
[Still  thinking.^   No — into  six. 

James. 
Six? 

PoNTiNG  and  Stephen. 
Six! 

Rose  and  Louisa. 
[  Who  with  Ann,  are  moving  round  the  head  of  the 
piano,  to  join  Ponting  and  Stephen.]   Six ! 

Helen. 
\Firmly.'\   Six.     A  share  must  be  given,  as  a  memorial 
of  my  father,  to  one  of  the  hospitals  in  Linchpool. 

Ponting  and  Stephen. 
\Protestingly^^    Oh ! 

Rose,  Ann  and  LouiSA. 

Oh ! 

Ponting. 
Entirely  unnecessary. 

Stephen. 
Uncalled  for. 

Helen. 
I  insist. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  221 


PONTING. 


[Coming  to  Helen.]  My  dear  Miss  Thornhill,  believe 
me — believe  me — these  cadging  hospitals  are  a  great 
deal  too  well  off  as  it  is. 

Helen. 
I   insist  that  a  share  shall  be  given  to  a  Linchpool 
hospital. 

PONTING. 

I  could  furnish  you  with  details  of  maladministration 
on  the  part  of  hospital-boards 

Rose. 
Shocking  mismanagement 

Stephen. 
There's  our  own  hospital 

Louisa. 
A  scandal. 

Stephen. 
Our  Jubilee  hospital 

Ann. 
It's  scarcely  fit  to  send  your  servants  to. 

Helen. 
[7J?  James,  risingJ]    Mr.  Mortimore 

James. 
[^Rising,   to   Ponting   and  the   rest."]    Miss  Thornhill 
says  that  one  share  of  the  estate's  to  go  to  a  Linchpool 
hospital.     D'ye   hear?    IMovtng  towards  them  authori- 
tatively.'\    That's  enough. 


222  THE    THUNDERBOLT 

[PONTING   and  Stephen   bustle   to  the  writing' 

table,  where  they  each  seize  a  sheet  of  paper 
and  proceed  to  reckon.  Rose,  Ann  and 
Louisa  surround  them.  James  stands  by,  his 
hands  in  his  pockets,  looking  on. 

PONTING. 

[Sitting  at  the  writing-table — in  an  undertone.']    A  hun- 
dred and  seventy  thousand  pounds 

Stephen. 
[Bending  over  the  table — in  an  undertone.]    Six  into 
seventeen — two  and  carry  five 

Pont  I  NO. 
Six  into  fifty — eight  and  carry  two 

Stephen. 
Six  into  twenty 

PONTING. 

Three 

[Helen  seats  herself  in  the  chair  on  the  right  of 
the  table  at  the  end  of  the  piano.  Elkin  and 
Valla nce  are  now  in  earnest  conversation  on 
the  extrei7ie  left.  While  the  calculation  is  go- 
ing on,  Thaddeus  and  Phyllis  raise  theif 
heads  and  look  at  each  other. 

Stephen. 
Carry  two 

PONTING. 

Six  into  twenty  again — three  and  carry  two       ■ 

Stephen. 
Again,  six  into  twenty — three  and  carry  two 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  223 

PONTING. 

Six  into  forty — six  and  carry  four 

Stephen. 
Six  into  forty-eight 

PONTING. 

Eight 

Stephen. 
Twenty-eight  thousand,  three  hundred  and  thirty-three 
pounds,  six  shiUings  and  eight  pence. 

PONTING. 

[^Rising,  his  paper  in  his  hand.']    Twenty-eight  thou- 
sand apiece. 

Thaddeus. 
[Rising."]   No 

Phyllis. 
[Rising.]   No 

Thaddeus. 
[As  everybody  turns  to  hi?n.]   No,  no  — 

James. 
Eh? 

PONTING. 

[To  Thaddeus.]   What  do  you  mean,  sir? 

Stephen. 
[To  Thaddeus.]   What  do  you  mean  ? 

Thaddeus. 
[Agitatedly.]    I  don't  take  my  share — my  wife  and  I 
don't  take  our  share — we  don't  touch  it 


224  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Phyllis. 
{Clinging  to  Thaddeus.]    We  won't  touch  it — oh,  no, 
no,  no,  no ! 

James. 
\To  Thaddeus.]    Don't  be  a  fool — don't  be  a  fool ! 

Thaddeus. 
Fool  or  no  fool — not  a  penny 

Phyllis. 
Not  a  penny  of  it 

Thaddeus. 

Not  a  penny. 

Helen. 
Very  well,  then.     \_In  a  clear  voiceJ]    Very  well;- Mr. 
Thaddeus  Mortimore  will  not  accept  his  share. 

PONTING. 

\^Wtth  alacrity.']    He  declines  it. 

Helen. 
He  declines  it. 

PONTING. 

That  alters  the  figures — alters  the  figures  — — 

Stephen. 
Very  materially. 

Rose. 
[To  Ann  and  Louisa.]    Only  five  to  share  instead  of 
six. 

Ann. 
[Bewildered."]   I  don't  understand 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  225 

Louisa. 
{Shakitt^  her  arm.']    Five  instead  of  six  ! 

[^^Laying  his  paper  on  the  top  of  the  piano ,  Ponting 
produces  his  pocket-pencil  and  makes  a  fresh 
calculation.  Stephen  stands  at  his  elbow. 
Rose,  Ann  and  Louisa  gather  round  them. 

Stephen. 
[/«    an    undertone.]    A   hundred    and   seventy    thou- 
sand   

Ponting. 
\In  an  undertone.]    Five  into  seventeen  — 

Stephen. 
Three 

Ponting. 
Five  into  twenty 

Stephen. 
Thirty-four  thousand  exactly. 

Ponting. 
Thirty-four  thousand  apiece. 

Rose,  Ann  and  Louisa. 
\To  each  other.]    Thirty-four  thousand  ! 

Helen. 
Wait — wait.     Wait,  please.    S^Afier  a  short  pause.]   Mr. 
Thaddeus  Mortimore  refuses  to  accept  his  share.     I  am 
sorry — but  he  appears  determined. 

Thaddeus. 
Determined — determined 


226  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Phyllis. 


Determined 


Helen. 


That  being  so,  I  ask  that  his  share  shall  be  settled  upon 

his  boy  and  girl.    [27?  Elkin.]    Mr.  Elkin [Elkin 

advances  to  herj]    I  suppose  an  arrangement  of  that  kind 
can  easily  be  made  ? 

Elkin. 
[^Witk  a  shrug.']  Mr.  Thaddeus  Mortimore  can  assent 
to  his  share  being  handed  over  to  the  trustees  of  a  Deed 
of  Settlement  for  the  benefit  of  his  children,  giving  a  re- 
lease to  the  administrator  from  all  claims  in  respect  of  his 
share. 

Helen. 
[Turning  to  Thaddeus.]  You've  no  objection  to  this? 
[Thaddeus  and  Phyllis  stare  at  Helen  dumbly,  with 
parted  tip.']  They  are  great  friends  of  mine— Cyril  and 
Joyce— and  I  hope  they'll  remain  so.  [A  pause.]  Well? 
You've  no  right  to  stand  in  their  light.  [A  pause.]  You 
won't,  surely,  stand  in  their  light?    [A pause.]    Don't. 

[Again  there  is  silence,  and  then  Phyllis,  leavitig 
Thaddeus,  totters  forward,  and  drops  on  her 
knees  before  Helen,  bowing  her  head  in 
Helen's  lap. 

Phyllis. 

[  Weeping^    Oh-oh-oh ! 

{Calmly,  Helen  disengages  herself  from  Phyllis, 
rises,  and  walks  away  to  the  fireplace.  Thad- 
deus lifts  Phyllis  from  the  ground  and  leads 
her  to  the  open  window.  They  stand  there, 
facing  the  garden,  she  crying  upon  his  shoulder. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  227 

Elkin. 
\_Advancing  to  the  jniddle  of  the  room.,  with  the  air  of  a 
man  who  is  about  to  perform  an  unpleasant  task.'\  Miss 
Thornhill— [Helen  turns  to  hi?}i]  Mr.  Vallance  and  I — 
\_to  Vallance]  Mr.  Vallance — [Vallance  advances'] 
Mr,  Vallance  and  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that,  as 
all  persons  interested  in  this  business  are  sui  juris  and 
agreeable  to  the  compromise  which  has  been  proposed, 
nobody  would  be  injured  by  the  next-of-kin  applying  for 
Letters  of  Administration. 

Vallance. 
[Tb  Elkin.]   Except  the  Revenue. 

Elkin. 
\Indifferently ,  with  a  nodS]    The  Revenue. 

Vallance. 
The  legacy  duty  being  at  three  per  cent,  instead  of  ten. 

Elkin. 
[/^adding.']    H'm,  h'm!    [7b  Helen.]    But,  my  dear 
young  lady,  we  have  also  to  say  that,  with  the  informa- 
tion we  possess,  we  do  not  see  our  way  clear  to  act  in  the 
matter  any  further. 

Vallance. 

I  cer- 

parties  to  the  making  of  an  affidavit 
that  the  deceased  died  intestate. 


[7b  James,  who  has  come  forward  on  the  left."]   We 
tainly  could  not  be  parties  to  the  making;  of  an  affid 


Elkin. 
We  couldn't  reconcile  ourselves  to  that, 

Vallance. 
We  leave  it,  therefore,  to  the  next-of-kin  to  take  their 
own  course  for  obtaining  Letters  of  Administration. 


228  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Elkin. 
In  fact,  we  beg  to  be  allowed  to  withdraw  from  the 
affair  altogether.     I  speak  for  myself,  at  any  rate. 

Vallance. 
[Emphatically. '\   Altogether. 

James. 
lAfter  a  pau5e.'\   Oh— all  right,  Mr.  Elkin  ;  all  right, 
Mr.  Vallance. 

Helen. 
[72?  Elkin.]   Then— do  I  lose  you ? 

Elkin. 
I  am  afraid — for  the  present 

Helen. 
[  With  dignity.']   As  you  please.     I  am  very  grateful  to 
you  for  what  you  have  done  for  me. 

Elkin. 
{^Looking  round.']    If  I  may  offer  a  last  word  of  advice, 
it  is  that  you  should  avoid  putting  the  terms  of  this  com- 
promise into  writing. 

Vallance. 
\_Assentingly.]   Each  party  must  rely  upon  the  other  to 
fulfil  the  terms  honorably. 

Elkin. 
\_To  Helen.]  You  have  no  legal nghx  to  enforce  those 
terms  ;  but  pray  remember  that,  in  the  event  of  any 
breach  of  faith,  there  would  be  nothing  to  prevent  you 
propounding  the  will  even  after  Letters  of  Adminis- 
tration have  been  granted. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  229 

James. 
Breach  of  faith,  sir ! 

PoNTiNG  and  Stephen. 
\_lndi£^nantly.'\    Oh ! 

James. 
There's  no  need,  Mr.  Elkin 

Elkin. 
[To  James.]    No,  no,  no — not  the  shghtest,  I'm  con- 
vinced.    [7i7  Helen,  taking  her  hand.~\   The  httle  hotel 
in  London — Norfolk  Street ? 

Helen. 
Till  I'm  suited  with  lodgings. 

Elkin. 
Mrs.  Elkin  will  write. 

Helen. 
My  love  to  her. 

\_He  S7niles  at  her  and  leaves  her,  as  VallanCE 
comes  to  her  and  shakes  her  hand, 

Vallance. 
\To  Helen.]   Good-bye. 

Helen. 
\To  Vallance.]   Good-bye. 

Elkin. 
\To  those  on  the  leftJ]   Good-afternoon. 

A  Murmur. 
Good-afternoon. 


230  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Vallance. 
[  To  those  on  the  leftJ]    Good-afternoon. 

A  Murmur. 
Good  -afternoon. 

[James  has  opened  the  door.  Elkin  and  Val- 
lance, carrying  their  bags,  go  out.  James 
follows  them,  closing  the  door. 

PONTING. 

\Coming forward P\  Ha  !  We  can  replace  those  gentle- 
men without  much  difficulty. 

Stephen. 
\_Co7ning  forward. '\    Old  Crake  has  gone  to  pieces  and 
this  fellow  Vallance  is  playing  ducks  and  drakes  with  the 
practice — ducks  and  drakes. 

PONTING. 

\_Offering  his  hand  to  Helen,  who  takes  it  perfunctorily  ."l 
Greatly  indebted  to  you — greatly  indebted  to  you  for 
meeting  us  half-way  and  saving  unpleasantness. 

Stephen. 
Pratt  is  the  best  lawyer  in  the  town — the  best  by  far. 

PONTING. 

\To  Helen.]  Nothing  like  a  compromise,  provided  it 
can  be  arrived  at — ah 

Stephen. 
Without  loss  of  self-respect  on  both  sides. 

[James  returns. 
Ponting. 
\To  James.]    Mortimore,  we'll  go  back  to  your  house. 

There  are  two  or  three  things  to  talk  over 

[Rose    co7nes    to    Helen   as  Ponting   goes  to 
Stephen  a«^  James. 


THE   THUNDERBOLT  231 

Rose. 
\Shaking  hands  with  Helen.]   We  sha'n't  be  settled  in 
Carlos  Place  till  the  autumn,  but  directly  we  are  set- 
tled  

Helen. 
\_Distanily.'\   Thank  you. 

Rose. 
Everybody  flocks  to  my  Tuesdays.     Let  me  have  your 
address  and  I'll  send  you  a  card. 

[Rose  leaves  Helen,  making  le/ay /or  Louisa  and 
Stephen. 

Louisa. 
\_To  Helen.]    Don't  forget  the  Crescent.     Whenever 
you  want  to  visit  your  dear  father's  birthplace 

Stephen. 
\_Benevolently r^    And  if  there  should  be  any  little  cere- 
mony over  laying  the  foundation-stone  of  the  new  Titnes 
ana  Mirror  building 

Louisa. 
There's  the  spare  bedroom. 

[  They  shake  hands  with  her  and,  making  way  for 
Ann  and  James,  follow  the  Pontings,  who 
have  gone  out. 

Ann, 

[Shaking  hands  with  Helen,  gloomily.']  The  next 
time  you  stay  at  "  Ivanhoe,"  I  hope  you'll  unpack  more 
than  one  small  trunk.  But,  there — [kissing  her]  I  bear 
no  malice. 

[She  follows  the  others,  leaving  James  with  Helen. 

James. 
[  To  HEhEN ,  gru^y,  wri?iging  her  hand.]    Much  obliged 
to  you,  my  dear  ;  much  obliged  to  you. 


232  THE  THUNDERBOLT 


Helen. 


[^Afier  glancing  over  her  shoulder,  in  a  whisper. '\    Mr* 
Mortimore 

James. 
Eh? 

Helen. 
[  With  a  motion  of  her  head  in  the  direction  of  Thad- 
DEUS  and  Phyllis.]   These  two— these  two 

James. 
{Lowering  his  voice.^    What  about  'em? 

Helen. 
She's  done  a  wrong  thing,  but  recollect — you  all  profit 
by  it.     You  don't  disdain,  any  of  you,  to  profit  by  it. 
{//e  looks  at  her  queerly,  but  straight  in  the  eyes.'}    Try  to 
make  their  hves  a  little  easier  for  them. 

James. 
Easier ? 

Helen. 
Happier.     You  can  influence  the  others,  if  you  will. 
lA pause.']    Will  you? 

{//e  reflects,  shakes  her  hand  again,  and  goes  to 
the  door. 

James. 

\At  the  door,  sharply^    Tad !    [Thaddeus  tums.'\ 

See  you  in  the  morning.     Phyllis !    {She  also  turns 

to  him,  half  scared  at  his  tone.}    See   you   both  in   the 
morning.    {Nodding  to  her.}    Good-bye,  old  girl. 

{He  disappears.  Helen  is  now  standing  upon 
the  hearth-rug,  her  hands  behind  her,  looking 
down  into  the  grate.  Thaddeus  and  Phyllis 
glance  at  her;  then,  guiltily,  they  too  move  to 
the  door,  passing  round  the  head  of  the  piano. 


THE  THUNDERBOLT  233 

Phyllis. 

\^Ai  the  door  in  a  low,  hard  voice.']    Helen [Helen 

partly  turns.]  You're  leaving  to-morrow.  I'll  keep  out 
-of  your  way — I'll  keep  up-stairs  in  my  room — till  you've 
gone. 

\She  goes  out.     Thaddeus  is  folluwing  her,  when 
Helen  calls  to  him. 

Helen. 

Mr.  Thaddeus \^He  closes  the  door  and  advances 

to  her  humbly.  She  comes  forward.]  There's  no  reason 
why  I  should  put  your  wife  to  that  trouble.  It's  equally 
convenient  to  me  to  return  to  London  this  evening.  \^He 
dows.Ji   Will  you  kindly  ask  Kate  to  pack  me  ? 

Thaddeus. 
Certainly. 

Helen. 
Er — \thinking]  Mr.  Trist  had  some  calls  to  make  after 
we  left  the  flower-show.     If  I've  gone  before  he  comes 
back,  tell  him  I'll  write 

Thaddeus. 
[^Bowing  again.]    You'll  write. 

Helen. 
And  explain. 

Thaddeus. 
[Under  his  breath,  looking  up  quickly.]   Explain ! 

Helen. 
Explain,  among  other  things,  that  I've  yielded  to  the 
desire  of  the  family 

Thaddeus. 
Desire ? 


234  THE  THUNDERBOLT 

Helen. 

That  I  should  accept  a  share  of  my  father's  property* 

Thaddeus. 

\_Falteringiy.']    Thank  you — thank  you 

Helen. 
\_Afier  a  while.']   That's  all,  I  think. 
Thaddeus. 

[^Offering  his  hand  to  her.']  I — I  wish  you  every  hap- 
piness, Miss  Thornhill.  [She places  her  hand  in  his.]  I — 
I  wish  you  every  happiness. 

[She  inclines  her  head  in  acknowledgment  and 
again  he  goes  to  the  door ;  and  again,  turning 
away  to  the  round  table  where  she  trifles  with 
a  book,  she  calls  him. 

Helen. 

Oh,  Mr.  Tad [He   halts.]    Mr.  Tad,  I    propose 

that  we  allow  six  months  to  pass  in  complete  silence — six 
months  from  to-day 

Thaddeus. 
[Dully,  not  understanding.]    Six  months — silence ? 

Helen. 
I  mean,  without  my  hearing  from  your  wife.     Then, 
perhaps,  she — she  will  send  me  another  invitation 

Thaddeus. 
[Leavifig  the  door,  staring  at  her.]    Invitation ? 

Helen. 
By  that  time,  we  shall,  all  of  us,  have  forgotten  a  great 
deal— sha'n't  we?    [Facing  him.]   You'll  say  that  to  her 
for  me  ? 

[He  hesitates,  then  he  takes  her  hands  and,  bend-- 
ifig  over  them,  kisses  the?n  repeatedly. 


TEE   THUNDERBOLT  235 

Thaddeus. 
God  bless  you.     God  bless  you.     God  bless  you. 

Helen. 

[  Withdrawing  her  hands. ~\    Find —  Kate 

\Once  fnore  he  makes  for  the  door, 

Thaddeus 
\Stopping  half-way  and  pulling  himself  together."]  Miss 
Thornhill — my  wife — my  wife — you've  seen  her  at  a  dis- 
advantage— a  terrible  disadvantage.  Few — few  pass 
through  life  without  being  seen — once — or  oftener — at  a 
disadvantage.  She — she's  a  splendid  woman — a  splen- 
did woman — a  splendid  wife  and  mother.  \_Movingto  the 
door.]  They  haven't  appreciated  her— the  family  haven't 
appreciated  her.  They've  treated  her  abominably  ;  for 
sixteen  years  she's  been  treated  abominably.  \_At  the 
doorT]  But  I've  never  regretted  my  marriage — [defiantly] 
I've  never  regretted  it — never,   for  a  single  moment — 

never  regretted  it — never — never  regretted  it 

\_He  disappears.  She  goes  to  the  table  at  the  end 
of  the  piano  and  takes  up  her  drawing-block 
and  box  of  crayons.  As  she  does  so,  Trist  lets 
himself  into  the  garden.  She  pauses,  listening, 
and  presently  he  enters  the  room  at  the  open 
window. 

Trist. 
\Throwing  his  hat  ofi  the  round  table.']   Ah I 

Helen. 
[Animatedly.]    Mr.  Trist 

Trist. 
Yes? 


236  THE   THUNDERBOLT 

Helen. 
Run  out  to  the  post-office  for  me — send  a  telegram  in 
my  name 

Trist. 
With  pleasure. 

Helen. 
Gregory's  Hotel,  Norfolk  Street,  Strand,  London — the 
manager.     Miss  Thornhill  will  arrive  to-night — prepare 
her  room 

Trist. 
[^His  face  falling.']   To-night ! 

Helen. 
I've     altered     my    plans.      Gregory's    Hotel — Greg- 
ory's   

Trist. 
\Picking  up  his  hat."]   Norfolk  Street,  Strand 

Helen. 
[At  the  door.']   Mr.  Trist — I  want  you  to  know — I — I've 
come  into  a  small  fortune. 

Trist. 
A  fortune ? 

Helen. 
Nearly  thirty  thousand  pounds. 

Trist. 
Thirty  thousand ! 

Helen. 
They've  persuaded  me — persuaded  me  to  take  a  share 
of  my  poor  father's  money. 


mi  mi  i^j  1^1 

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